2021/22 Season Review: November

Hearts 5-2 Dundee United

Hearts hit Dundee United for five in an emphatic win at Tynecastle Park in our first match of the November schedule to move into second in the cinch Premiership.

18,000 fans were treated to seven goals as the rampant Jambos emerged 5-2 victors thanks to Ben Woodburn’s double and goals from Alex Cochrane, Stephen Kingsley and Aaron McEneff.

It was Woodburn who would break the deadlock just after the 20-minute mark. Played into the right-hand side of the box, he drilled a low shot on target that squirmed under Siegrist and into the back of net for his first goal in maroon.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Josh Ginnelly’s ball across the box found Cochrane, who rifled home an unstoppable volley into the far corner.

 The visitors would pull one back on 34 minutes. Ryan Edwards was afforded time to carry the ball forward before trying an unlikely 35-yarder, only for his shot to take a deflection off the head of Kingsley which sent the ball into Gordon’s bottom left corner.

It took the Jambos only five minutes into the second half to restore a two-goal cushion. Cochrane’s corner was headed back across goal by Craig Halkett, with Moore getting a crucial touch to divert it into the path of Woodburn, and the on-loan Liverpool man expertly guided the ball into the top corner.

United's persistence paid off when the unmarked Nicky Clark headed home to reduce the deficit once again. 

With 14 minutes remaining, Hearts extended their lead. Cochrane floated a free kick into the back post for Kingsley to bullet a header into the back of the net.

The icing on the cake arrived in the 86th minute when Mackay-Steven won possession and threaded through McEneff, who dinked the ball over the onrushing Siegrist to make it 5-2.

Motherwell 2-0 Hearts

Hearts were defeated by Motherwell at Fir Park in our next match. Goals in each half from Connor Shields and Rickie Lamie earned the three points for the home side, while Taylor Moore saw red for the Jambos. 

Hearts thought they had an opening after a cagey start from both sides, when they broke at pace and McKay found Woodburn sprinting through the middle but his touch was heavy and the ball rolled through to Liam Kelly. 

Motherwell’s first threat came through Kaiyne Woolery, who gathered the ball at the edge of the penalty area but fired a shot past the post. The hosts took the lead midway through the first half, when Woolery hit the byline and played a ball across goal that missed everybody before it rebounded to Connor Shields who finished from close range. 

On 64 minutes, the task was made harder. Taylor Moore, already booked for a late challenge early in the second half, received his marching orders for bringing down Shields to stop a counter attack. 

From the resulting free kick, Motherwell doubled their lead as Rickie Lamie rose unchallenged to nod home from close range. 

Hearts 2-0 St. Mirren

Hearts moved into second place in the cinch Premiership with a hard-fought win over St Mirren in Gorgie. 

Goals in the last half-hour from Gary Mackay-Steven and Stephen Kingsley moved Hearts to within three points of Rangers at the league summit.  Hearts took the lead after Halkett did superbly to win the ball on the halfway line and drove towards goal.

The ball eventually worked its way left to McKay. His shot deflected into the path of Mackay-Steven and GMS made no mistake from just inside the area to bury the ball into the corner. 

Boyce came close soon after when he worked his way into the area, driving a left footed strike low at goal with Alnwick saving. Cammy Devlin dove in at the rebound but was booked for colliding with the keeper. 

Hearts sealed the win courtesy of yet another screamer from Kingsley with 15 minutes remaining. After Boyce was felled on 25 yards out, Kingsley stepped up and curled an absolute pearler into the top corner giving Alnwick no chance.