Hearts player ratings vs Stenhousemuir as 8/10 duo inspire swaggering stroll to Premier Sports Cup semi-final

Hearts stormed to Hampden and a Premier Sports Cup semi-final by defeating Stenhousemuir 3-0 on Friday night.

Goals from JJ Williams and Rogers Mato put the Premiership side into a commanding half-time position that they never looked likely to lose. Substitute Yan Dhanda finished things off in a controlled second 45 minutes during the quarter-final tie at Ochilview that was the first to be played this weekend.

There are three more semi-final places up for grabs when Ross County face Hibs, Kilmarnock host Aberdeen and Rangers take on Celtic over this weekend,, with last-four ties to be played on October 31/November 1.

A 6-2 hammering of Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle opened up the Jambos’ League Cup campaign on the right footing. This trophy has alluded the club since the 1962-63 season and head coach Wouter Vrancken was not set to offer excuses should they exit at the last eight against part-time opposition.

This would be no easy task though against a Warriors team who currently sit top of the second tier, unbeaten under head coach Marvin Bartley, and their Ochilview home with a plastic surface is a different animal entirely to what Tynecastle demands from Hearts players.

A tight arena with old-school terracing, this was a proper cup night under the lights. Much-lauded top flight side Motherwell found that out the hard way upon losing to Stenhousemuir in the previous round last month and how hard it is to play an expansive brand of football here and it was something Vrancken’s team had to adapt with. They didn’t have troubles to seek in terms of personnel, Oisin McEntee added pre-match to an absentee list that already included Tom Renaud and Blair Spittal, to name a few.

A rotated forward line that left star power like Claudio Braga and Calvin Miller on the bench showed an away team playing to their best would almost certainly overcome their foes contesting a first League Cup quarter-final in 51 years. Six changes from the team that defeated Dundee 2-1 last time out could have banished a level of fluidity from Vrancken’s team, but an early attack inside 30 seconds that saw Sabri Guendouz head narrowly over in front of a packed away end largely on their feet showed no sign of that.

Stenhousemuir displayed their attacking intent in a rare let-up of Hearts possession, a long throw finding Kinlay Bilham, who blazed over goalkeeper Beau Reus’ net.

It was always going to be a game of patience ad the game began to be broken up by misplaced passes, fouls and crosses missing their men. Williams had looked bright up front for Hearts, providing a physical outlet for teammates to bounce off, and his header on target was another sign of growing Gorgie control on proceedings. Before half-time that grip was cast-iron and a Hallowe’en trip to Hampden looked secure.

Another Hearts ball into the penalty box this time came good as cries of ‘USA, USA’ were belted out to Williams’ first goal since joining from Rhode Island. The lead was doubled shortly after when Mato went bursting down the left-hand-side after being slipped in by Williams and he made no mistake.

Vrancken had a pre-match declaration over conquering alibis that perhaps would explain a cup shock and that aim was achieved in a swaggering first half. It made the action in the second half almost secondary to the outcome, with Bartley’s side offering little response in the way of attacking threat.

Travelling fans were keen for more goals, perhaps not from Lewis O’Donnell though, who spurned a rare opening for Stenhousemuir. They cut an image of a side who knew their impressive race in the competition was run and their soon-to-be victorious foes were allowed time for strolling towards the finishing line. Another goal was added as Dhanda - making just his second competitive appearance this season - emerged from the bench to convert a tap-in following a ball headed across goal by Williams.

With one of Rangers and Celtic to tumble out, and no other current top-six teams from the top flight in the mix, dreams of a cup that has long eluded Hearts can now fully take shape. Plenty of action will take place at home and in the Conference League place before then, but the Jambos - now undefeated in nine games -are coming to the boil, with Vrancken’s style causing woe for opponents and joy for maroon onlookers.

Here’s how we rated the Hearts players vs Stenhousemuir.

The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly