Wighton nets winner at Gayfield

Craig Wighton’s exquisite strike 20 minutes from the end gave Hearts a hard-earned Championship victory on their first visit to Gayfield on league business for 41 years.

But the well-organised home side could justifiably argue they should have had a least a share of the spoils.

The Lichties were without suspended centre-back Tom O’Brien after his red card at Kirkcaldy last week but Colin Hamilton returned after injury while Kris Doolan and Michael Ruth were given starts.

He a r t s made two changes from the side that started the demolition of Dundee, with Andy Halliday and Elliot Frear coming in.

The Tynecastle side dominated possession in the early stages but it took until the 12 th minute for the visitors to get a shot on target when Liam Boyce’s effort was easily gathered by Derek Gaston.

However, the expected onslaught failed to materialise and the loss through injury of the lively Jo s h Ginnelly seemed to upse t the visitors’ creative edge.

Arbroath began to grow into the game and had a wonderful opportunity to take a shock lead when Kris Doolan found himself free inside the box but Craig Gordon stuck out a foot to block the effort.

Moments later Gavin Swankie had another chance but failed to make a good connection.

The Lichties continued to impress and just before the half-hour mark Gordon again came to the Jambos resc ue when getting down low at his right post to push behind another Doolan shot.

Hearts created a few more openings at the start of the second period, Wighton being denied by a fine Gaston block before Frear curled a 20-yard attempt narrowly wide.

But the deadlock was f b r o ke n in the 70 th minute when Wighton, who enjoyed a loan spell at Gayfield last season, coolly lobbed Gaston from the edge of the box.