Jambos come from behind in sensational second-half
HEARTS 5 Kingsley (11), Wighton (68, 74), Lee (71), Boyce (81) AYR UNITED 3 Smith (57), Mcgowan (60), Walsh (90+ 4) Hearts manager Robbie Neilson saluted his players for overcoming the physical and emotional toll of their Scottish Cup final heartache as they beat Ayr United in an eight- goal thriller.
Six days on from the agonising shootout loss to Celtic at Hampden, the Gorgie outfit came from behind to maintain their three point lead at the Championship summit.
Stephen Kingsley grabbed the only first half goal after 11 minutes following a blunder from Ayr keeper Viljami Sinisalo before seven were shared after the break.
Cammy Smith and Luke Mccowan put Ayr ahead before substitute Craig Wighton, who grabbed a brace, Olly Lee and Liam Boyce found the net.
Tom Walsh added another in injurytime for the Honest Men.
Neilson said: “It was always going to be difficult because we had the physical output of last week, the full 120 minutes and then penalties – and it takes it out of you.
“We also had the mental and emotional side and it takes you a bit to get over that. It takes three or four days and then you have to refocus on the league.”
Neilson decided to freshen up his starting XI after taking Celtic to penalties. In came Lee, Elliott Frear and Jordan Roberts. Jamie Walker and Steven Naismith dropped to the bench, while Aidy White missed out completely.
There was also no place in the squad for Josh Ginnelly.
Tynecastle was battered by driving rain and a fierce wind as the game kicked-off but it was Ayr who were unable to weather the early football storm as Hearts piled on the pressure.
The home team made their dominance count when Kingsley fired the hosts ahead with a free-kick from 25-yards that squirmed through the hands of Ayr keeper Sinisalo. The upright then denied Hearst full-back Michael Smith a stunning goal with a rising, right-footed drive from 30 yards.
As the second period began there was no indication of how it would unfold as seven goals were shared out.
Out of the blue, it was Ayr who suddenly found a path to goal to stun Hearts with two quick-fire strikes.
The equaliser arrived in the 57th minute when Smith hooked Andy Murdoch’s cross into the net from eight yards.
On loan Dundee United forward Smith then turned provider for Mccowan, who swept a curling effort across Craig Gordon from a tight angle.
Ayr’s lead lasted only eight minutes after sub Wighton stroked Christophe Berra’s low cut back into the net from eight yards with a first-time effort.
Lee then fired Hearts in front three minutes later after slamming Steven Naismith’s knock down past Sinisalo from close range.
Wighton added a fourth in the 74th minute with a fizzing low drive that found the bottom left hand corner from 20 yards.
Boyce then coolly beat Sinisalo from inside the area in the 81st minute following nice work by Wighton in the build up before Ayr sub Walsh grabbed a third for Ayr with the last kick of the game.