Derek McInnes described the 1-0 win over battling Livingston as mission accomplished, three points and a clean sheet. His opposite number, David Martindale, took positives from the narrow defeat in which his men were on top for part of the second half.
Hearts undoubtedly purred in the first, their flowing football indicative of a side proudly sitting on top of the William Hill Premiership.
But the league’s bottom club gained a foothold in the game second-half and certainly did not look like a side without a win in 18 games. A switch saw influential Mo Sylla, a man with top level experience, exerting real pressure which allowed 6ft 5in striker, Tete Yengi, to create danger up-front. Livi, in simple terms, had a real go in the second 45 minutes, and had Hearts back-pedaling.
Indeed, many of the Jambos faithful in the crowd of 18,504 breathed a huge sigh of relief when towering Aussie-born Yengi had a clear sight of goal from around the penalty spot in second-half injury time only to send his header into the arms of Hearts’ goalkeeper, Alexander Schwolow. No wonder he held his head in his hands.
Indeed, the lanky forward had other chances in an entertaining game which he failed to convert leaving the Tynecastle team six points clear at the summit of the table, but Hearts fans around me were frustrated that their heroes had failed to tamed the Lions during their first-half supremacy.
Hearts had chances to bury the visitors, and Lions’ goalkeeper Jerome Prior was forced to show his quality with several stops, including an eye-catching, one-handed save from a header which looked as if it was heading for the net from his own skipper, Ryan McGowan, a former Hearts player, of course, and another from Harry Milne.
Iceland-born midfielder, Tomas Magnusson, in the Hearts side to act as a foil to the height of the opposition in the midfield area, had a glimpse of goal first-half but failed to make it count from a few yards out, and busy Claudio Braga saw an effort slam against an upright.
It was Craig Halkett who made the difference. Dutch debutant Jordi Altena picked up the ball on the right and drove in an inviting cross. Halkett was just inside the Livi penalty box and sent his header across Prior and into the net at the far post. Time 18 minutes.
McInnes described it as an “old fashioned”, “magnificent” header and he was delighted with the performance of new right-back Altena who, just a few months ago, was playing amateur football. He slotted into the side after only two training sessions with his new colleagues. Altena did not look out of place.
The three points gained moved the Jambos onto 44 from 20 fixtures. Second-placed Celtic and Rangers, who have climbed to third, have 38 points from the same number of games.
Looking back, McInnes assessed the first-half thus: “We looked like a team that deserved to be top of the league. Sometimes one goal is enough and it was enough today.”
Martindale admitted it had been a tough few days after their home defeat to Dundee United in midweek, and he conceded: “We rode our luck in the first 25 minutes and deservedly went in 1-0 down, then, second-half, we were good value. We controlled parts of the game.”
His men prop up the rest with only nine points from 20 games but should take confidence after bouncing back after the United defeat to run the league leaders close. Indeed, Hearts reverted to a back five late on in a bid to secure the win. Martindale felt that move was a testament to his side’s influence after the break.
The West Lothian side can attempt to build on that when third bottom St Mirren, who have 18 points from 19 starts, come to The Home of the Set Fare Arena on Tuesday (19.45). Livingston, said Martindale, aim to hang around in Scotland’s top league and there is a determination in the dressing-room to do so.
HEAD MAN: Craig Halkett (pictured right against Hibs) claimed his sixth goal of the season with a great header to earn the points in the victory over Livingston.
