IT ended up being a stroll in the park but Hearts head coach Ian Cathro heaped praise on his players for not getting stressed during Saturday’s 4- 0 success over Premiership strugglers Hamilton.
Accies keeper Gary Woods produced the game of his life to make seven saves in a one-sided first half.
Had Martin Canning’s side made it to the break unscathed, the tension inside the stadium would have increased dramatically – with Hearts failing to win any of their previous five matches.
But Arnaud Djoum notched the opener with literally the last kick of the half, before Isma Goncalves, Jamie Walker and Malaury Martin got on the score sheet to keep the Gorgie side in fourth place in the top-flight.
Cathro insists his players deserve credit for not letting the pressure get to them during a frustrating first period.
He said: “The most pleasing aspect was the character, the calmness of the team in the first half because we were playing well, we were dominant and there was good football, there were attacks and lots of good saves.
“It could have reached a point in the moment that we’re in that we start to feel stressed, start to feel that anxiety – tension starts to build.
“But it didn’t. We stayed strong, stayed calm and we dealt with it very well.
“We more than deserved the goal before half-time.
“Was there relief when the goal went in? Yes. It’s one of those things that you’re hoping football rewards the work that goes on on the pitch and I think long- term that’s the case.”
Cathro’s side racked up eight shots on target during the first 45 minutes, including the all important breakthrough strike.
Djoum finally found the path to goal in injury time. Tziolis’ low drive was blocked in a congested box and the Cameroonian lifted a left footed drive into the net from close range.
After the break Goncalves powered in a rising drive in 56 minutes from a Don Cowie lay-off after Woods was penalised for picking up a pass back.
There was major confusion in the build-up to the incident as everyone thought referee Craig Thomson had blown for a foul on Walker.
And that was the case two minutes later. Walker was felled by Ioannis Skondras in a promising area just outside the box and the playmaker curled a wonderful free- kick into the top corner.
Accies were down and out and Martin added a fourth in the 89 th minute.