Partick Thistle 0-2 Hearts story of match: Two fine goals, new signings and a penalty save

Two fine goals bring pre-season to a victorious end in Glasgow

Jamie Walker scored Hearts' opening goal at Firhill.

The Maryhill sunshine created an ideal setting for two well-executed goals by Jamie Walker and Andy Irving as Hearts won their final pre-season friendly.

There should be more bite at Tynecastle Park on Tuesday evening in the Betfred Cup against Inverness, but the Edinburgh club continue building momentum for their competitive season.

New signings Mihai Popescu and Andy Halliday started against Partick Thistle in Glasgow just six days after these teams recorded the same scoreline in Edinburgh.

Walker struck on that occasion and bulged the rigging again with a rasping drive as a second-half substitute. Irving doubled the advantage with a solo goal befitting of such a sunny autumnal afternoon.

Thistle saw a first-half penalty saved by Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and also had an effort disallowed for offside in a game of many chances at both ends. They deserved more from the first 45 minutes in truth.

For Hearts, there is a clear and welcome intent to pass the ball at high intensity, if also a sign that they have still to fine-tune their defence and overall fitness.

They lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Romanian Popescu partnering Craig Halkett in central defence with Halliday and Olly Lee anchoring midfield.

Fresh from signing a new three-year contract, 18-year-old right-back Cammy Logan appeared at left-back. Thistle tried to exploit his inexperience through winger Joe Cardle.

An open first half set the tone for the afternoon. Craig Wighton’s link play and intelligent runs at centre-forward were a feature for the visitors, and he struck a post on 19 minutes after galloping in behind the opposition. He also had two attempts repelled by Kieran Wright in the Thistle goal.

Partick earned a penalty for Halkett’s 27th-minute foul on Blair Lyons. However, Gordon’s strong right fist denied striker Salim Kouider-Aissa from the spot.

Rhys Breen headed a free-kick beyond the Hearts goalkeeper at the back post only to be thwarted by a questionable offside flag. Gordon then dived down to his right to push Kouider-Aissa’s shot away before the interval.

Halliday was replaced by teenager Scott McGill having barely trained for six months, but his intent to pass and move was evident. A raft of interval substitutions ensued as expected but the entertaining fare continued.

Hearts opened the scoring on the hour as Harry Cochrane fed Liam Boyce, whose pass was convincingly dispatched into the net by Walker. Irving then produced a quality second with a meandering run from midfield and angled finish from 20 yards.

The notion that Robbie Neilson’s team still have another gear, perhaps two, to find is unavoidable. Nonetheless, they now enter competition undefeated from seven friendlies against Scottish opposition.

Partick (4-1-4-1): Wright; McKenna, O’Ware (Williamson 20), Breen, Penrice (Rodden 46); Niang; Cardle, Reilly, Gordon (Rudden 60), Lyons; Kouider-Aissa (Renfrew 82). Unused subs: Scullion, Cameron, Lyons, McDonald, Watson.

Hearts (4-2-3-1): Gordon (Zlamal 46); M Smith, Halkett (Cochrane 46), Popescu (Haring 46), Logan; Lee (Irving 46), Halliday (McGill 44); Henderson (Ginnelly 46), Naismith (Moore 65), Roberts (Walker 46); Wighton (Boyce 46). Unused subs: Zlamal, Moore, Stewart.

Referee: Scott Lambie.

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