Hearts bounce back from early scare at Accies
WITH Rangers having no planned reunions for Steven Naismith or Steven MacLean, the two former Ibrox strikers could concentrate on helping Hearts to an emphatic victory as in-demand Kyle Lafferty was again reduced to a latesubstitute role.
Naismith set up Peter Haring for the first of the Austrian’s double then converted the goal from the penalty spot to give his side the lead as the visitors moved smoothly up a second-half gear.
MacLean, who was unaware he had an admirer in Craig Levein while he was a kid at Rangers 15 years ago, rounded off victory on 62 minutes with his third goal in four games.
The comfort of the score allowed the Hearts manager to ease Lafferty into action. The new dad was the subject of the away support’s vocal adulation in an effort to persuade him to be part of a team that appear ready and robust for the new season.
Lafferty was left out of the starting line-up against Inverness last Sunday because of transfer interest from Rangers. This week, his head was turned by the arrival into the world of a baby daughter.
So it was left with Uche Ikpeazu to be the rugged focal point, MacLean and Naismith benefiting from the excellent hold-up work of the big English striker. The class, movement and experience of MacLean and Naismith proved too much for a young Hamilton defence.
Manager Martin Canning was swift to express a desire to shore up that department with know-how before derby day at Motherwell next Saturday.
Yet the upgraded pitch at the newly — and controversially — named Hope CBD Stadium, through a cannabis-oil company sponsorship, had appeared to be a comfortable fit for Canning’s players in a bright opening.
Mikel Miller’s persistence gave them a 17th-minute lead. Aaron Hughes was ponderous in his efforts to usher the ball safely back to goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal inside his own penalty area.
Referee Andrew Dallas could have called foul on Miller’s grapple on Hughes to steal possession but gave the forward the benefit of the doubt, and he tucked his finish through Zlamal’s legs for his first Accies goal.
The home team were worth their lead for a front-foot start but their concentration slipped in the excitement and they never recovered. Indeed, Gary Woods swiftly became their hero with a great reaction save to tip Christophe Berra’s header for a corner.
Hearts kept the pressure on and when Naismith picked up the pieces from the corner on the edge of the area, he clipped a pinpoint delivery for the towering target of Haring.
The Austrian, described as a dream player to deal with by his manager, held off Shaun Want to steer his header past Woods.
Hearts then set about the second half with intent and had the points secured by 62 minutes. Haring had Woods hurtling to his right to save a volley in the opening seconds and that signalled one-way traffic.
Ikpeazu became more of a menace as the game wore on. He bustled in behind Want from a throw-in to force a save from Woods before Naismith used all his savvy to do the rest of the damage.
He controlled the rebound, took a touch to tease the sliding foul from Alex Penny and comfortably slotted home from the penalty spot.
Former Cambridge striker Izpeazu will be at the centre of plenty of bruising battles and free-kick controversy this season as defenders try to get to grips with him.
He won the set-piece that earned Hearts a third goal. Berra knocked down a header that evaded Naismith but Haring was all composure in the box again — this time with a sidefoot finish from 14 yards. It wasn’t all about bulldozing through the opposition for Izpeazu, however, as his fine play with the ball at his feet and back to goal was followed by a splendid pass — slid through perfectly for the run of his strike colleague MacLean to score No 4.
The veteran avoided artificial surfaces when at St Johnstone but was happy to play against Cove Rangers in the Betfred Cup and badgered Levein for the chance to put worries about the pitch at this venue behind him.
He exhibited no concerns for the conditions as he fired a drive across Woods into the corner of the net.
Lafferty’s cameo came with 12 minutes remaining. That might just tune up the Northern Irishman for the visit of Celtic to Tynecastle next Saturday lunchtime. HAMILTON (4-1-4-1): Woods; Penny, Want, Gordon, McCann; McKinnon; Imrie (Cunningham 71), Lyon (Taiwo 63), Miller, Kelly; Bingham (Bloomfield 80). Subs (not used): Fulton, McGowan, Phillips, Boyd. Booked: McCann, Penny. HEARTS (4-4-2): Zlamal; Hughes, Souttar, Berra, Garuccio (Burns 71); Morrison (Mulraney 71), Haring, Lee, Naismith; MacLean, Ikpeazu (Lafferty 78). Subs (not used): Doyle, Bozanic, McDonald, Smith. Booked: MacLean, Naismith. Referee: Andrew Dallas. Attendance: 3,764.