Robust Hearts continue to build momentum with victory ahead of derby
Ross County Hearts 1
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN made it two away wins in a week with victory over Ross County in Dingwall, following on from the 2-1 success at Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup semi-final.
It was a familiar story in the first half for Hearts, a lot of possession but not many chances. The big moment came after the break when Steven Naismith had made attacking changes, bringing Alex Lowry and Alan Forrest off the bench. Those two combined with the former setting up the latter for what proved to be the winner.
It left the 1600 or so Hearts fans delighted and pushed the club into fourth place in the Premiership table.
System change
For just the second time this season, Naismith opted for a back three. The instant reaction was that the tweak was in response to County’s front two which included Jordan White, an effective and awkward target man with the mobile Alex Samuel. The back line of Toby Sibbick, Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles kept that front line under wraps, not giving them a sniff in the first half.
County were direct but there was always cover to sweep up any loose balls. It saw Malky Mackay replace both forwards at half-time with Eamonn Brophy and Simon Murray coming on.
Further ahead there was a tweak to what many expected the Hearts formation to be. Rather than Jorge Grant playing ahead of Calem Nieuwenhof and Aidan Denholm, he was alongside Denholm, in front of the Aussie. It ensured Grant got more space to get on the ball and move up the pitch and support. Twice he got chances at the edge of the box but failed to get clean contact on either. If anything the team lacked another creative or forward option.
Bench impact
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As happened on Tuesday as Hearts progressed to the Viaplay Cup semifinal, Naismith’s substitutions played a key role. On that evening it was Odel Offiah and Lowry. On this occasion it was Lowry and Forrest.
Hearts had little space in the final third in the first half but Lowry found some in the half space, able to turn and spin the perfect cross to meet the out to in run of Forrest. The connection may not be what he meant but his header dropped perfectly past Ross Laidlaw.
Momentum builder
Naismith called on the team to build momentum and consistency after the win over Kilmarnock. Was it a glittering performance? No, the first half was similar to what had gone before, but there were positive signs. There was a quicker start, there were chances created, mainly in the second half, and defensively the team didn’t get turned easily, the way they have previously. More than that, winning games builds confidence. It keeps the mood very high around the dressing room and the team will go into the derby with a spring in their step.
Blunt County fail to get going
This was a well-earned three points for Hearts but Naismith’s men were also given a helping hand by coming up against a particularly toothless Ross County team. The hosts had only mustered three shots on goal by half-time, resulting in Malky Mackay hauling off his strike partnership at the break. Unfortunately for the Staggies, though, the result was the same: they simply couldn’t fashion clear-cut opportunities.
It wasn’t until second-half stoppage time that Zander Clark’s goal was truly threatened, when Connor Randall connected with Jack Baldwin’s cushioned header. The County midfielder drove his shot into the ground and the ball bounced harmlessly over the bar to ensure his team left empty-handed – and the lack of creativity on offer will surely concern Mackay and his coaching staff. Of the nine shots that Ross County attempted over the 90 minutes, only one was on target. When all was said and done, they had barely laid a glove on Hearts.