Yet another win leaves momentum with Hearts
FALKIRK 1
Bia Bi 71
HEARTS 2
McHattie 27, El Hassnaoui 37
Morgaro gomis insisted the pressure is now firmly on rangers ahead of Saturday’s top- of-the-table showdown at Tynecastle after Hearts extended their lead to six points courtesy of a gutsy victory.
Knowing their title rivals had stuttered their way to a laborious 1-1 draw against alloa earlier in the day, Hearts produced a Jekyll and Hyde display to eventually claim the win and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
First- half goals from Kevin McHattie and Soufi a n El Hassnaoui looked to have robbie Neilson’s men cruising to an easy three points in a first 45 minutes when it was difficult to gauge just how good Hearts were against how abysmal Falkirk had been.
The fact visiting goalkeeper Neil alexander barely had his gloves dirtied in the opening period would certainly give credence to the latter.
But a second-half fightback from the Bairns ensured there was to be a nervy end to the match for Neilson’s side.
Skipper in the absence of injured Danny Wil so n, Senegalese midfielder gomis covered every blade of grass in a typically industrious performance and was instrumental in all that was good about Hearts.
‘The gaffer just told us to go out there and win the game,’ he said. ‘We knew both rangers and Hibs had dropped points, so it was a big opportunity and we just wanted to make sure we took advantage.
‘The manager didn’t put any pressure on us. He just told us to go out and enjoy the game and the result will come.
‘Thankfully it did. It’s not going to be easy but we want to maintain this position now until the end of the season.
‘We don’t feel any pressure and this result showed that. rangers have more pressure going into the game because we are now six points clear. There’s a long way to go. The main thing is we are ready to go out there and win the game.’
gomis, a relative veteran in an otherwise youthful side at 29, also maintained his team are capable of handling whatever rangers throw at them.
‘It’s a big game, but when you’re top of the league every game becomes a big game because everyone wants to beat you,’ he said.
‘We’ll be ready. our squad is good enough to handle it and we are comfortable playing a number of different styles.
‘So if it’s a physical battle, the boys will definitely be up for it.’
Hearts took the lead after 27 minutes when Billy King drifted inside off his right flank. The winger skipped past a series of half-hearted challenges from Falkirk defenders before finally laying the ball off to McHattie, who crashed a left-footed strike high into the roof of the net past ex-Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.
They doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Jamie Walker foraged his way down the left wing and picked out El Hassnaoui with a teasing cross, leaving the Moroccan striker to slide home.
Walker should have put the game out of sight for Hearts just after the interval after a clear run through on goal but he could only direct his shot straight at MacDonald.
Falkirk boss Peter Houston, perhaps realising his side lacked any real artistry or guile, switched to a 4-4-2 and introduced alex Cooper and Botti Bia Bi into the fray and it was the latter who ensured a nervy end for Hearts.
after the ball found its way to him at the back post, Bia Bi was afforded far too much space to turn and clipped a neat finish beyond alexander.
Ultimately, it was not enough and Hearts held on to clinch what could prove to be a pivotal three points in the title race.
We shall not be moved was the cry reverberating around the Falkirk Stadium at full-time.
With a six-point cushion at the top of the table ahead of the visit of ally McCoist’s side to Tynecastle — where Hearts have won every game so far this season — you’d be hard pushed to argue.