Craig Wighton on target as Hearts concede four to Burnley in pre-season friendly defeat

Craig Wighton scored Hearts' consolation goal in the 4-1 friendly defeat to Burnley. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

Craig Wighton was on the scoresheet as Hearts were beaten 4-1 by English Premier League ouftit Burnley in a pre-season friendly this afternoon.

The match was one of two fixtures taking place at the Barnfield training ground with both Robbie Neilson’s men and Mansfield Town facing two different Burnley sides containing a mixture of first-team and fringe players.

West Ham target James Tarkowski, who has two caps for England, was among those facing the Jambos, alongside the likes of Ashley Westwood and Jay Rodriguez, while Hearts gave starts to new signings Josh Ginnelly and Jordan Roberts.

Former Ross County defender Yann Songo'o again featured as a second half trialist for the Edinburgh side following his 45-minute appearance against St Mirren on Wednesday.

Hearts found the going tough against a Burnley side preparing for the start of the new Premier League season next week and found themselves three goals down inside half an hour.

Sean Dyche’s men were ahead inside the first couple of minutes when goalkeeper Craig Gordon upended Lewis Richardson in the box and Rodriguez drilled home the resulting spot-kick.

Max Thompson added a second and Richardson made it 3-0 before Wighton pulled one back for the visitors on 37 minutes with a close range finish after being played in by midfielder Olly Lee – hailed as the visitors’ stand-out player in a report on the official Burnley website.

The Clarets’ domination continued after the break, although the only goal came from Iceland international Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who spotted Gordon off his line to find the net with a delightful chip from 30 yards two minutes after the restart.

Burnley: Norris, Lowton, Long, Tarkowski, Pieters, Westwood, Benson, Gudmundsson, Rodriguez, Thompson (Mumbongo 65), Richardson (Elva-Fountaine 73).

Hearts: Gordon; Brandon, Halkett, Hamilton (Trialist 45), White (Garuccio 65); Lee (Cochrane 65), Damour (C Smith 65); Ginnelly (Moore 65), Walker (Frear 45), Roberts; Wighton (Irving 45).