Veteran rolls back years as Jam Tarts go 12 clear
Robbie Neilson insists Craig Gordon turns the magnificent into the mundane due to his daily displays of brilliance.
The veteran Scotland international turned in a stunning showing as Hearts defeated Dunfermline 1-0 at Tynecastle, with the coup de grace coming when he produced a truly staggering save to deny Ryan Dow prior to the interval.
Gordon, 38, instinctively pawed a point-blank header from the Pars attacker over the bar, belying his advancing years, and once again making a mockery of Celtic’s decision to allow him to depart without a fight last summer.
Opposition manager and captain, Stevie Crawford and Euan Murray, both confessed to being stunned by the stop during media duties in the aftermath of the contest, as did Jamie Walker, who climbed from the bench to notch a late winner.
Neilson, however, has grown accustomed to the lofty standards set by his
No. 1 in training and reckons he is getting better with every passing game.
“Craig had a couple of good saves, but we have come to expect that of him,” smiled Neilson. “I see it every day in training, to be honest.
“And the more games he gets, the sharper he seems to be getting.
“I’m delighted for him because he said when he came here it was to get first-team football and try and get in the Scotland squad – watching that on Saturday, there’s no doubt he should be in there.”
Neilson added: “We have played better, definitely. It was more of a grind, but sometimes you need to do that to win a league.”
However, it could have been a very different outcome if Dunfermline had made the most of their first-half opportunities.
A ferocious low shot from Declan Mcmanus forced a heroic goal-line clearance from Michael Smith with just a minute on the clock, before a Fraser Murray cross-cumshot was parried to safety by Gordon.
Hearts carved out their first clear chance after a quarter of an hour, with Mihai Popescu rising highest to meet a Steven Naismith corner – but Owain Fon Williams made a fine low block.
That would prove as close as the ponderous hosts came in the opening 45 and, but for the brilliance of Gordon, the Pars would have gone in at the break with a lead.
The former Sunderland keeper pulled off a sensational full-length save to tip Dow’s over the bar after a pin-point delivery from on-loan Hibs kid Murray.
January arrival Armand Gnanduillet, fresh from a debut double against Raith Rovers in midweek, replaced the ineffectual Euan Henderson on the hour mark and immediately forced Fon Williams to parry a towering header to safety.
The French forward then shot wide following and excellent run and cutback by Naismith.
Finally, some urgency from the men in maroon.
And the opener came when Walker, who replaced Naismith as Hearts turned the screw, produced a delightful turn inside the box before lashing an unstoppable effort whistling past Fon Williams.
“Jamie brings that quality,” lauded Neilson.
“Bringing him on when the game was more open suited him.”
Josh Edwards and Iain Wilson both threatened as Dunfermline threw bodies forward in search of parity.
However, Hearts, now 12 points clear at the summit, held firm to take another massive stride towards the Championship title.