There are many teams for whom the end of the season can’t come quick enough. It’s somewhat ironic, therefore, that Hearts – whose season never really began thanks to the 15 points taken away from at the start of the league campaign – are wishing the season could carry on and on.
Having demolished Kilmarnock 5-0 in Gorgie on Sunday, Hearts made a couple of changes from that side. Hat-trick hero Ryan Stevenson was injured while goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald – named Hearts Player of the Year at the weekend – was rested with young Mark Ridgers given another chance to impress in goal.
Partick Thistle arrived in Edinburgh knowing a victory would boost their chances of avoiding the dreaded relegation play-off. However, it was Hearts who started the brighter of the two teams.
After just 15 minutes the home side took the lead when Callum Paterson ran fully 25 yards before rifling home a superb effort past Thistle keeper Gallacher to put Hearts ahead, much to the delight of the huge home support.
Three minutes later, young Billy King collected Dale Carrick’s brilliant pass but his effort on goal was high and wide. It was a miss Hearts would rue as Thistle grabbed an equaliser after half an hour. A long ball forward found Taylor who held off the attention of Danny Wilson to slot home.
However, with half-time approaching, Hearts regained their lead when Kevin McHattie’s fine free-kick was met by the head of Wilson and the Hearts captain nodded the Maroons back in front. 2-1 to the home side at half-time.
Thistle thought they had equalised early in the second half but Taylor’s effort was deemed offside. The equalising goal was merely delayed though. After 51 minutes, a brilliant long-range effort from fully 30 yards from Fraser restored parity.
It was a rip-roaring game and McHattie and Taylor both had chances to put their respective teams ahead. Midway through the second half, Thistle did take the lead when Mair headed home following a corner. 3-2 to Thistle and this became 4-2 five minutes later when Higginbotham fired the ball past Mark Ridgers, much to the delight of the travelling Thistle support. The final score was 4-2 to the Jags.
Thistle’s victory means they will remain in the SPFL Premiership next season. Hibernian will slug it out with Kilmarnock at Easter Road on Saturday with a winner-takes-all scenario to avoid the relegation play-off. In fact, a draw will be enough for Killie meaning Easter Road won’t be a place for the faint-hearted.
So Hearts ended their final home league fixture of the season with a disappointing result, a reversal of the score when they won at Firhill in April. We all knew Hearts were likely to go down this season but at least the team gave their support much to look forward to with their displays in recent weeks. A special mention too, for a special support. More than 14,000 turned up at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening. At the end they chanted ‘We’ll Support You Ever More’. No one can be in any doubt they will.
Hearts: Ridgers, Paterson, McGowan, Wilson, McHattie, King, Holt, Hamill, Robinson, Nicholson, Carrick. .
Partick: Gallacher, McMillan, Mair, Balatoni, Sinclair, Elliot, Fraser, Bannigan, Higginbotham, Craigen, Taylor.
Referee: Crawford Allan
Att: 14,059
Top man: Kevin McHattie
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
