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JTs secure the points against plucky Accies |
Hearts had to hold out but a young side secured a deserved victory over Hamilton here at Tynecastle this afternoon courtesy of goals from Michael Stewart and Suso early in the second period. Marco Paixo netted what proved to be a consolation for the Accies.
The sun was shining on Tynecastle as Hearts took all three points in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixture against Hamilton.
Csaba Laszlo was forced to make three changes to the team which beat Dunfermline in the Co-operative Insurance Cup match on Wednesday. Ruben Palazuelos missed out with food poisoning; Lee Wallace and Gary Glen both missed the match through injury, in came Andrew Driver, Ian Black and David Witteveen.
Both teams started the match well with neither sitting back, Hearts had the best early chance of the game when in the sixth minute Jose Goncalves swung in a ball from the left and found Suso Santana at the back post, his volley going just wide of the post.
The Jambos had another chance to take the lead six minutes later when a ball in from the right found David Obua at the back post but the big midfielder's shot went into the side netting.
Craig Thomson continued to be a threat with his dangerous crosses into the box and swung a brilliant ball in from the right which was just nipped away from the head of Witteveen by Trent McClenahan resulting in a corner. Thomson swung the ball into the back post towards Obua who headed wide of the post.
The home side continued to attack and in the 32nd minute a ball in from the left by Goncalves was miss-hit by Paixao and rolled out for a corner. This was swung in again from young Thomson, finding the head of Goncalves, whose effort came crashing of the bar.
Hamilton were trying to push forward and in the 38th minute got a free kick about thirty yards out from Hearts goal. Richard Hastings stepped up to take it and his shot was deflected just wide of Balogh's goal.
Hearts had a great chance to take the lead five minutes before half-time when Suso found himself with the ball just inside his own half. The winger charged forward on the counter attack with Driver in support, who was screaming for the ball on the left. The Spanish sensation went it alone and got blocked by the Hamilton defence who had scrambled back, much to the disappointment of Driver.
Billy Reid made a change for the second half with Grant Evans replacing Simon Mensing and Billy Reid's men were pushing towards Hearts goal in the beginning of the second half.
The Jambos got a free kick early in the second half which was taken quickly by Michael Stewart. He passed out to Suso on the right whose swinging shot was well held by Tomas Cerny.
The first booking of the game came in the 50th minute when Ian Black brought James McArthur down at the edge of the box.
Hearts were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute when David Witteveen was brought down in the box by Martin Canning. Michael Stewart stepped up to take the penalty and scored from the spot for the second time in as many games.
The Tynecastle men weren't resting on a one goal lead and a corner in from Craig Thomson in the 55th minute was found at the back post by Suso Santana - a scramble with the keeper saw the ball end up in the back of the net and the quick footed winger ran off to celebrate doubling Hearts lead.
Losing two goals in the space of two minutes would leave a lot of teams with their heads down, but Hamilton continued pushing forward. In the 59th minute Craig Thomson was dispossessed at the edge of his box by Marco Paixao who controlled the ball well and placed it past Janos Balogh to bring the visitors right back into the match.
Hamilton got a boast from the goal and kept pushing forward. Paixao picked the ball up at the edge of the box and blasted a shot in, which Balogh did well to hold.
Hearts got a free kick on the edge of the Hamilton box when Mark McLaughlin brought down Witteveen; earning himself a yellow card. Thomson's resulting effort didn't trouble the Hamilton keeper and went clear over the bar.
Csaba Laszlo made his first substitution of the match in the 77th minute with Suso leaving the field to a rapturous applause from the home fans to be replaced by Arvydas Novikovas.
In the 82nd minute Andrew Driver won a free kick about thirty yards out and referee Alan Muir used the break in play to book Hamilton's James McArthur for persisting fowling. Craig Thomson took the free-kick- with his effort going just over the bar.
Hearts made a late sub taking off David Witteveen in injury time and brought on youngster Scott Robinson. However he didn't have time to make any impact on the game and it finished with Hearts securing all three points at Tynecastle.
Hearts: Balogh; Thomson, Zaliukas, Bouzid, Goncalves; Suso (Novikovas 77), Stewart, Black (J. Stewart, 88), Driver; Obua; Witteveen (Robinson 90). Subs not used: MacDonald, Kucharski, Novikovas, J Thomson, J Stewart, Mulrooney, Robinson.
Hamilton: Cerny; Mclenahan, Canning McLaughlin, Hastings; Wesolowski, (Louhoungou 62) McArthur,Mensing (Evans 45), Mason, Antoine-Curier (Knight, 81), Paixao. Subs not used: Murdoch, Evans, Louhoungou, Gillespie, Kissock, Elebert, Knight
Referee: Alan Muir
Top man: Jose Goncalves
Join Lawrence Broadie, Mark Donaldson and Gary Mackay for LIVE coverage of today's game - on air via the heartsfc.co.uk home page at 2.45pm
