Hearts ready? Jimmy says it’s a Dunne deal
Hearts defender Jimmy Dunne insists the Tynecastle side are ready for a daunting run against all the Premiership heavyweights after maintaining their fivepoint lead at the summit with victory over St Johnstone.
On-loan Burnley centre-half Dunne added to Peter Haring’s first-half effort to put the hosts in a commanding position.
However, Craig Levein’s side were forced to endure a tense ending after Ross Callachan grabbed what proved to be a consolation for Saints in the 77th minute.
Hearts travel to Rangers next week before facing Aberdeen, Hibs and Celtic, who they will also lock horns with in the Betfred Cup semi-final, and Dunne insists they will embrace the challenge.
He said: “This is what we’ve been waiting for and I think our first bunch of games have prepared us and given us confidence to be able to go into a run of games like this where we can feel confident and look at ways to beat them.
“Once you start winning games you get into good habits and it does not matter who you’re playing against.
“We certainly don’t fear anyone else. This next run of games is going to be the great challenge and of course you’ll have some people doubting us but that does not matter to us.
“We have Rangers next week and that’s our focus.”
With the same team that defeated Motherwell in the League Cup last-eight in midweek, Hearts made their dominance count in the 23rd minute via the head of Haring.
The flight of Olly Lee’s corner was altered by a glancing touch at the front post but Haring benefited as he took his time to find the smallest of gaps with a looping header that cleared Foster guarding the post.
With Rangers manager Steven Gerrard watching on, Hearts had their tails up and tried in vain to give themselves some breathing space before the break.
Saints were left exposed when a flowing move culminated in Lee teeing up Callumn Morrison in the area but the winger could only find the side netting.
Demi Mitchell had a fierce rising drive palmed over by Zander Clark, while Lee and Haring were also left frustrated in their bid to bulge the net.
The Tynecastle side recorded a total of 10 shots during the opening 45 minutes – five on target – in comparison to two attempts from the visitors.
Hearts did ride their luck in the 53rd minute when Drey Wright dragged a shot just wide from close range after combining with Callachan. But Hearts remained most likely to score again. After Lee had a shot saved and Steven Maclean and Steven Naismith both missed sitters, the home fans were again on their feet in the 65th minute.
Lee came up with his second assist from a corner and the unmarked Dunne was left with the simple task of heading in from 10 yards.
But instead of going for the kill, the hosts allowed complacency to creep into their game.
Callachan set up a nervy ending by placing Foster’s cross into the corner in the 77th minute, but Hearts held on.
Saints manager Tommy Wright admitted his side were second best.
He said: “The finish to the game was how we should have been for the whole game.
“I’ve got no complaints about the result but we started the game too loose.
“We lacked energy, where Hearts seemed right up for it.
“They were competitive and we lost too many first and second balls.”