Hearts 1-0 Dunfermline Athletic
Robbie Neilson’s Hearts now sit in a commanding position at the top of the Championship after edging Dunfermline in a competitive clash at Tynecastle Park with all the hallmarks of a league winning side.
Substitute Jamie Walker was the difference between the Jambos and the Pars, who had inflicted Hearts’ first defeat of the season, when he rifled home with ten minutes to go after a cracking turn off a Michael Smith pass.
Defensive lapses have been Hearts’ challenge this season and without a terrific Craig Gordon save just before the break they would have been a goal down after the big stopper turned away Ryan Dow’s goal-bound header.
However, the league leaders managed to keep a second consecutive clean sheet, following up Tuesday’s demolition of Raith Rovers, aided by a second half performance with more drive and determination.
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ attacking midfielder, Jamie Walker, fires home what proved to be the only goal of the game. Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ new signing, French striker, Armand Gnanduillet, Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ attacking midfielder, Jamie Walker, celebrates after scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game. Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Unorthodox celebration by Hearts’ attacking midfielder, Jamie Walker, after scoring to give the home side a narrow 1-0 victory. Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ attacking midfielder, Jamie Walker, celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game. Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ attacking midfielder, Jamie Walker, turns away after scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game. Credit: Ian Jacobs
Despite not hitting the lows of last weekend’s defeat by the Kirkcaldy men, Hearts didn’t display the same zip and pace in the first 45 minutes that has been a key characteristic of there’s at home so far this campaign. However, they looked well setup and went through the gears without creating any real meaningful opportunities.
In the second period, the addition of Aidy White and Jamie Walker made a big impact with the running and intent of the Irishman causing the Pars issues and upping Hearts’ attacking tempo. Jamie Walker’s performance was a strong one and will leave the Hearts support even more frustrated given the relatively infrequency in which he shows up in a maroon shirt. His goal was out of the top drawer in taking the ball menacingly from a decent through ball and coolly dispatching it past Fon Williams.
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ new signing, French striker, Armand Gnanduillet, Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ new signing, French striker, Armand Gnanduillet, Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ French striker, Armand Gnanduillet, gets the better of Dunfermline defender, Euan Murray. Credit: Ian Jacobs 
Scottish Championship – Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 23/01/2021 Hearts play host to Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Pic shows: Hearts’ French striker, Armand Gnanduillet, gets the better of Dunfermline defender, Euan Murray. Credit: Ian Jacobs
In other positives, Euan Henderson and Mihai Popescu also looked promising and dynamic in their contributions. With Christophe Berra back from injury, and on the bench, it looks like the centre back berth is for Popescu to lose now. Two-goal debutant Armand Gnanduillet made an appearance off the bench without looking too fearsome but notably was deployed alongside an industrious Liam Boyce which bodes well for Hearts’ ongoing attacking resolve.
With Dundee slipping up away at Raith Rovers, it is the Fifers who now emerge as Hearts’ biggest challengers with a 12 point chasm splitting the sides – albeit with John McGlynn’s men with two games in hand. Next up for Hearts is a visit to Ayr United live on BBC Scotland next Friday evening.
Hearts: Gordon, Smith, Popescu, Halkett, Kingsley, Halliday, Irving, Mackay-Steven (White, 59 mins), Naismith (Walker, 74 mins), Henderson (Gnanduillet, 60 mins),Boyce Subs: Haring, Berra, Stewart, Frear
Dunfermline: Fon Williams, Comrie, Watson, Murray, Edwards, Whittaker (McCann, 84 mins), Dow, Wilson, Mayo, Murray (Banks, 68 mins), McManus (O’Hara, 72 mins) Subs: MacDonald, Gill, McInroy, Todd
Referee: Willie Collum
