Peterhead 0 - 2 Hearts RECAP: Robbie Neilson's men begin season with confident win
It has been 71 days since Hearts last played a competitive fixture, a 4-0 win at Stark’s Park over Raith Rovers as the team completed their Championship season in resounding fashion.
Before the Tynecastle club can return to top-flight action after a longer than usual pre-season, they enter the group stages of the Premier Sports Cup.
For the second time in four years, Hearts make the trip north to face Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium before fixtures against Cove Rangers, Stirling Albion and Inverness CT.
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Hide AdNeilson has so far added one player to last season’s squad with the arrival of Alex Cochrane, while Josh Ginnelly has signed a permanent deal. There could be roles for both Loic Damour, who didn’t feature during the Championship-winning campaign, and Jordan Roberts, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Motherwell.
We will have live coverage of the match, from updates to analysis and reaction, throughout the afternoon.
Peterhead v Hearts LIVE: Updates, analysis and reaction
How the Hearts players rated in 2-0 win over Peterhead as trio stand out
Hearts eased to a 2-0 win at Peterhead to get their Premier Sports Cup campaign off to a strong start.
A solid 90 minutes for Hearts as they began their season with a comfortable win.
The only time the Premiership side were troubled when they presented Peterhead with a couple of openings through slack play. By and large, Robbie Neilson’s men were in firm control of the match and could have won more convincingly.
Liam Boyce was his usual self, dropping deep but also presenting the team’s biggest goal threat. Peter Haring and Michael Smith also impressed. The latter, at wing-back, played high and constantly offered the team width down the right. Haring grew into the game where he won possession and dictated play with his movement with and without the ball as well as his range of passing.
There were some nice cameos off the bench from Walker and Pollock.
All in all, a 90 minutes Neilson will be happy with.
Michael Smith has been excellent as a wing-back, a constant out ball on the right, while Peter Haring has been the player fans want to see, winning possession and progressing the game from midfield.
A haring ball over the top is sweeped up by Wilson but the ball falls to Smith but his attempted chip bounces well wide.
Walker immediately involved, playing the ball out wide to Cochrane who slid it into the path of GMS but the effort went just wide.