Friendly: Millwall 2-3 Hearts
From Hearts News at the New Den

Hearts picked up another superb win here in England this afternoon after a tremendous Craig Thomson inspired fight-back against Millwall at the New Den.

Eggert Jonsson put Hearts ahead after 12 minutes from the penalty spot, and the Gorgie outfit fully deserved their lead which they held until the end of the first period when Liam Trotter netted the first of two headed goals.

His second after 54 minutes put Millwall ahead only for Craig Thomson to lead the fight-back for Hearts, curling home a beautiful free-kick to get Hearts back on level terms.

And it was Thomson again that secured the victory with another sensational free-kick goal - even better than the first if that was possible - to hand Jim Jefferies' side the win three minutes from time.

The result was marred by a serious injury to Ismael Bouzid who left the field in a neck brace although he later got the all clear following concerns he may have fractured his skull.

JJ made three changes to the side which won at Gillingham on Thursday night. As expected Marian Kello came in for Janos Balogh, whilst he switched the wingers replacing Suso and Arvydas Novikovas for Craig Thomson and David Templeton.

After the pre-match formalities, not without pomp, ceremony and a right rumpus of noise Hearts got the game underway on a very warm day three miles from central London.

Hearts started the game really brightly, enthusiastically using Templeton and Thomson in the wide areas, with both full-backs, Wallace and Barr, bombing on to support the front line.

And they capitalised on that positive start by hitting the front on 12 minutes from the mark after Alan Dunn fouled Lee Wallace in the penalty area. Eggert Jonsson stepped up and sent Forde the wrong way.

By now this was a raucous affair, not necessarily just defined by the on-pitch action!

The visitors continued to impress and Lee Wallace in particular was looking superb. His magnificent run and pass to Elliot nearly produced perfection when the striker fed Thomson whose outstanding delivery was cleared on the line with Templeton set to pounce.

Hearts were dealt a major blow eleven minutes before half time when Ismael Bouzid appeared to land very badly after an aerial challenge. After several minutes he left the field in a neck brace.

Indeed that nasty incident appeared to leave a mark on the men in all-maroon, for Millwall edged into the contest and eventually equalised a minute before the interval. Liam Trotter took advantage of time and space to direct a free header into the net from James Henry's corner kick and the New Den rose to acclaim the goal.

Trotter put Millwall ahead nine minutes into the second half, after the home side countered a Hearts attack. Trotter powered home James Henry's excellent cross and the men in maroon were in trouble.

Stevenson nearly carved open an equaliser shortly after, though, when he turned his man and delivered a deadly ball across goal which Suso came close to connecting with.

The ascendancy was with the home side by now, Steve Morrison coming close to extended Millwall's lead when put through on goal, but he could only lift the ball over Kello before taking a clump for his efforts.

Having survived that scare, Hearts were back at parity on 68 minutes when Templeton was fouled 25 yards out and Craig Thomson curled a sensational free-kick into the top corner.

Within 30 seconds of Gordon Smith's introduction he should probably have scored after Forde was left in a pickle by Ward's clumsy back-pass, but the keeper responded by denying the forward.

And Millwall nearly responded identically when Marius Zaliukas fluffed a back-pass and Lisbie charged in on goal, rounded Kello and then saw his shot cleared off the line by Mrowiec.

In an all action conclusion to the game, Ryan McGowan was denied a certain goal by a magnificent last-ditch challenge by Tamika Mkandawire.

That was before Craig Thomson netted another utterly unbelievable free-kick, this time from 35 yards into the top corner after McGowan was hauled down by Mkandawire.

Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Frampton, Robinson, Trotter, Schofield, Harris, Henry, Ward, Morton, Abdou. Subs: Mildenhall, Grabban, Hackett, Mkandawire, Smith, Lisbie, Laird.

Hearts: Kello; Barr, Bouzid (McGowan, 34), Zaliukas, Wallace; C Thomson, Mrowiec, Jonsson (Suso, 46), Templeton (Novikovas, 83); Elliot (Smith, 83), Stevenson. Subs not used: MacDonald.

Referee: Paul Crossley