Hearts player ratings vs Falkirk: Two 8s shine in impressive win as screamer sets up tasty Rangers battle

A Stephen Kingsley beauty secured a 2-0 victory for Hearts against Falkirk, in their latest Premiership clash.

Claudio Braga put Hearts ahead inside a minute in the Premiership clash and Harry Milne denied the hosts a certain leveller before first half proceedings ended. Braga was denied a second after a good header following half-time before Kingsley came off the bench and smashed home a winner from range. The Jambos remain top of the league by six points after the Bairns battle as second-placed Celtic have two games in hand, with a key match with Rangers at Tynecastle up next.

A sticky patch of form was put firmly in the distance last time out by beating title rivals Celtic in Glasgow, with the only bubble to burst being chatter of a Hearts trophy charge derailing. To ensure it remained on the tracks long haul, good results in tricky games like this one are paramount to McInnes and co’s chances of glory come May.

It would not come easy against former boss and coach John McGlynn, who’s Championship winners of last term have adapted to the top flight with ease. Under the lights and on TV, the pressure sat firmly with Hearts, to prove why they are the team to beat in Scotland right now. McInnes put faith in the team that beat Celtic with no starting XI changes and that almost instantly looked an inspired choice. Lawrence Shankland lashed a shot off the bar and Braga arrived to bundle home from close range, the perfect start to instantly put the game in maroon control.

Blustery conditions were far from ideal and it created a little uncertainty in some situations, Stuart Findlay with a key block to stop Falkirk getting through on goal. Mistakes were being made on both sides and any time the ball was taking flight, an age would pass before it hit the deck again, leading to a couple of awkward situations. Amid all of that, Hearts did look dangerous in attack, Braga feeding in Shankland but the shot was wayward from a difficult angle.

The game’s next big chance would present itself to the hosts, who after firing an effort wide, broke through on goal and Kyrell Wilson had the goal to aim at with Alexander Schwolow on the deck, but Milne burst back to make an outstanding block on the goal line. That sparked booing for the officials as they made their way down the tunnel at half-time with a VAR check for handball clearing Milne of any wrongdoing.

A spark between Kyziridis and Braga was growing after the interval and a great cross by the former found the latter’s head, only denied a second goal by a diving Scott Bain save. Braga looped a header over the bar moment later. Falkirk landing a free kick right on the edge of the Hearts box and firing it off their own man, Alfredo Agyeman, summed up their attacking efforts after the restart as poor conditions persisted.

There was still a sense that Hearts needed a second and substitute Kingsley brought the magic they needed. Against the side he started his career with, the left-back blasted a beauty from outside the box well beyond Bain and into the bottom corner. Rangers are up next at Tynecastle and fans will smell blood against a side that’s lurched from one calamity to the next this season. Punters chanted ‘we shall not be moved’ as victory closed in and as they approach Christmas top of the Premiership tree, they’re showing no signs of giving up their precious position. Here’s how we rated the Hearts players in Grangemouth.