The home side started well and grew into a strong first-half performance. Before Andy Halliday opened the scoring with a good header from an Armand Gnanduillet cross the league leaders could have been ahead.
It looked like being a comfortable victory when Gnanduillet doubled the lead following a Gary Mackay-Steve sitter and Liam Boyce hitting the bar. But a Jaso Cummings penalty after a Mihai Popescu foul set up a nervy finish but Hearts ultimately held on despite Peter Haring’s late red card and opened up a 15 point lead at the top.
But how did the players rate?
Player ratings scale - 10: One of the best performances you've seen. 9: Outstanding. 8: Very good. 7: Good. 6: Average. 5: Poor, 4: Very poor. 3: A terrible day at the office. 2: Abysmal. 1: One of the worst performances you've seen.
5. Stephen Kingsley - 7
Back to his best in spells, composure, vision, positivity down the flank. Made a big block on an Anderson shot shortly after the break when the scores were 1-1. Photo: Paul Devlin - SNS Group
6. Andy Halliday - 7
Very good first half from the midfielder. Combined with Kingsley and was industrious in putting pressure on and joining in attacks. Scored a nice header. Photo: Mark Scates - SNS Group
7. Aaron McEneff - 6
Some nice spells and moments, especially the composure to set up Smith who then set up Gnanduillet in the first half. Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group
8. Andy Irving - 6
A steady influence at the base of the midfield. His impact waned after the break but produced the pass of the match to set Smith free down the right. Photo: Paul Devlin - SNS Group