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LIKE the plane that hovered above Tynecastle during the early stages of this game, Hearts are continuing to fly high in the Premiership following a third straight win at the expense of Partick Thistle.
Arnaud Djoum grabbed the only goal with a 25th-minute header to move Robbie N e i l s o n ’s side to within six points of second-placed Aberdeen.
Hearts fans are loving life at the moment but incredibly one disgruntled fan took the extreme step of hiring out a plane to display his disappointment in head coach Robbie Neilson.
This was billed as a day of celebration, with the team wearing the Foundation of Hearts kit – a strip that pays tribute to those that helped save the club – for the first time at Tynecastle.
But the mood was somewhat dampened just after kick- off when a plane, carrying the message, ‘ No Style, No B o t t l e, Ne i l s o n o u t’ circled the sky above the ground for around 10 minutes.
The home fans responded with chants of “There’s only one Robbie Neilson”.
“I didn’t see it but I was shown it after the game,” said Neilson.
“I’d rather people spent their money on the Foundation of Hearts instead of wasting their money on me.
“It’s up to them, they can do what they want. I think we’re sitting in a decent position but I’ll have to have a look at my gear.
“D o n’t w a s t e your money on that, get it into the Foundation.”
The message was all the more baffling given how Hearts have fared on their return to the top flight.
Hearts scored the only goal of the game after 25 minutes when they made
MATCH STATS
a sustained spell pressure count.
Djoum rose high to meet a second successive Don Cowie corner at the back post and bullet a header past Tomas Cerny.
Neilson, whose side failed to add to their lead after the break despite creating a handful of chances, added: “We played all right but I thought we deserved the win.
“It’s always difficult if you don’t get that second goal. It’s three games, three clean sheets and nine points so I ’m delighted with that.”
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald said: “It’s come down to a set- play and that is something we’re well aware of being a major strength for Hearts.”
On the plane message, Archibald said: “He’s up against it Robbie, isn’t he?
“It’s r idiculous, be careful what you wish for.”
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