Hearts clinched a key 1-0 win their latest Premiership clash with Falkirk as they ensured their top of the table place for another week.
Blair Spittal missed a big chance for head coach Derek McInnes inside the first 10 minutes before winter arrival Islam Chesnokov put them ahead with an eventual winner just before half-time. Claudio Braga was denied in the second half and Alexandros Kyziridis tried his luck too in search of a decisive second goal.
Midfield duo Ageu and Beni Baningime, defender Stuart Findlay and goalkeeper Craig Gordon were all injury storylines coming out of matchday ahead of next week’s game against Aberdeen, as fitness concerns fail to let up. The Jambos are still first ahead of title rivals Rangers and Celtic playing Livingston and Hibs on Sunday, leading by a five-point advantage.
On the 10th annual Big Hearts Day - a celebration of the club’s charity wing - a response was being sought by boss McInnes. The Jambos lost last weekend at Ibrox and to ensure they remained top come the end of this weekend, a win was needed against an impressive side managed by ex-boss John McGlynn.
Baningime was a notable omission from midfield, as what keeper Gordon from the squad, adding to the likes of Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin’s being left out injured. It was up to those on the pitch to defeat a team who put them out the Scottish Cup last month. New fitness issues rolled in before a ball was kicked as Ageu was injured in the warm-up and replaced by Spittal, and Falkirk upped the ante early on with Brad Spencer’s low drive almost deflected home by Barney Stewart.
Kyrell Wilson’s surge towards the box and shot brought some angst out of home supporters, but the hosts soon settled, and a Kyziridis drive showed signs of attacking intent. Spittal would soon go painfully close after great play by Braga and Marc Leonard teed him up for an effort, going inches wide, albeit a strange goal kick decision was given off the back of it after it appeared to be deflected off target.
Fans in Gorgie have been keen to see winter signing Chesnokov burst into life and the Kazakhstan international was behind the Falkirk backline, chipping over the bar, before the offside flag was held aloft. Proceedings had settled on both sides after a lively start but the Bairns looked a threat on the break with plenty of pace in their team, Keelan Adams breaking up the pitch off a loose Hearts pass to set up Ben Broggio, but he could only fire well wide.
Chesnokov would not be denied before the break as some space was finally found to play in the away team’s final third. Kyziridis showed some great close control and the new attacker’s first goal in maroon came by keeping his composure and tapping low beyond Scott Bain. Braga almost netted 10 seconds after the restart with a low drive and influential Falkirk attacker Wilson’s departure from proceedings through injury looked to have tipped the scales in Hearts’ favour further.
Tempo wasn’t swashbuckling but that was fine by the home team who were in command and controlling the proceedings. Kyziridis was begging for someone to tap home his cross after a brilliant Spittal pass set him loose down the left but nobody could convert, a goal which with 20 minutes to go, would surely end matters as competitive.
Braga was next to try his luck after wriggling into some space and Bain had to be alert in batting away his powerful effort amid a downpour of rain. Like he had been all afternoon, Hearts’ Greek winger danced in and out of defenders and Bain did well again to deny Kyziridis what would have been a well deserved goal. This game was far from done with just a solitary goal in it, however, as a Falkirk corner was recycled and Stewart headed over from mere yards out. Defender Findlay was next to fall victim to Hearts injury concerns in the dying embers of the match and that will be of concern to McInnes who doesn’t have his issues to seek, but the big thing here was a respond alongside three points. They got both as title momentum continues to build in Gorgie. Here’s how we rated the Hearts players against Falkirk.
