Neilson delighted to return to summit with final on horizon
IF there wasn’t still the small matter of a tricky trip to Queen of the South next weekend, this would have been the perfect Scottish Cup final preparation for Robbie Neilson’s Hearts.
The Tynecastle side earned a 2-0 win over a stuffy Morton outfit at Cappielow yesterday afternoon thanks to a brace from Jamie Walker and Neilson was chuffed to see the winger back on the score sheet. The victory also helps the Maroons back to the top of the Scottish Championship after dropped points against Dunfermline recently. It also helped them bounce back from their Betfred Cup exit at the hands of Alloa last weekend.
“I was delighted with that,” the manager said. “[Top of the table] is where we want to be and we want to stay there. We’ve had a very good start to the season, winning five out of six, so it’s important we stay there.”
Neilson, while full of praise for Walker’s double, admitted his side could have been even more clinical.
“Jamie is a top player,” Neilson added. “He started the season really well then came out because he had a wee niggle, but it’s great to see him in there. Being able to have [Steven] Naismith and Walker in there shows our quality.”
The tale of the match was that of Hearts – through the experienced Naismith and Andy Halliday – made good use of the ball on the deck while Ton were content to hoof it long and attempt to make the most of second balls.
Yet Morton thought they’d taken the lead when Sean McGinty curled a wicked effort inches past the post. A Lewis Strapp ball sparked a free-for-all inside the area. On-loan Rangers youngster Josh McPake nudged it down for Markus Fjortoft who spread the play towards the righthand side of the box. That’s where McGinty waited to strike perfectly with the inside of his left boot. But as McPake prematurely raced towards the centre-half to celebrate, the ball fell agonisingly wide.
Walker then stung the palms of Aidan McAdams in the Ton goal before Naismith sent a flying drive over the top. There were then screams for a Hearts spot-kick when a Halliday chipped through ball appeared to come off a hand inside the box, but referee Greg Aitken was unmoved.
Andy Irving and Stephen Kingsley then fired efforts over the crossbar before Craig Wighton went closest for his side. A direct ball forward from the flank by Michael Smith found the striker on the turn and his first-time volley was brilliantly tipped clear. But it wasn’t long until the Jambos did take the lead, through arguably fortuitous circumstances.
Olly Lee played it wide towards Walker and his strike nestled into the top corner of the hosts’ net. The winger’s effort bounced off the turf and evaded McAdams who had little chance.
Lee should have doubled their advantage himself on half-time and would have done just that had it not been for an outstanding fingertip stop from McAdams. Smith hared down the right flank and cut the ball back to the edge of the area. The visiting midfield ace got clean contact on it but McAdams threw himself at it to keep it out with a strong hand.
If Walker’s first had any luck involved at all, his second certainly didn’t. Naismith found Irving and his crossfield was expertly controlled on the chest by the No.7 who found himself in behind Ton’s backline. He opened his body and swept the ball beyond McAdams into the far corner.
Lee then clattered the post with a deflected cross and Craig Halkett headed over when he should have at least hit the target as Hearts turned the screw. Robbie Muirhead and Aidan Nesbitt tried their luck for Ton in a rare late flurry forward but neither effort troubled Craig Gordon.
Ton boss David Hopkin reckoned his side deserved something from the action for their efforts defensively, but acknowledged the talent their opponents possess to punish them. But he heaped praise on goalkeeper McAdams for his strong, standout showing.
He said: “Aidan had some fantastic saves. Two fantastic saves, he’s a fine young goalkeeper, he’s only 21 and he’s getting better every week.”