U2’s hit “Beautiful Day” echoed around Tynecastle as the fans celebrated a 4-0 win over Dundee United in the William Hill Premiership. It was certainly a Beautiful Day for them and head coach, Wouter Vrancken, but not for his counterpart, Jim Goodwin.
French-born Tom Renaud settled any home nerves with a sensational strike inside four minutes and Calvin Miller slotted No 2 from the penalty spot eight minutes later.
Yes, there were some sticky moments after that as United pressed, but Hearts held out to the break and netted twice in the second-half, Claudio Braga after 56 mintues and Josh McPate 11 minutes after that.
The result means Belgian-born Vrancken earned his first win after four defeats in a row and the home fans in the 18,602 crowd were on their feet to acclaim their favourites.
What a way to answer your critics after the 6-1 humbling by Benfica in Lisbon in midweek.
Benfica visit Gorgie for the second leg of the Europa League, third qualifying round, on Thursday and it was Renaud, fresh from his well-worked, consolation goal in Portugal, who lit up dreich Tynecastle in the first home game of the William Hill Championship.
Hearts were in against a new-look United with ten new recruits added to their squad and the Tayside team sported a grey and white strip, far removed from their usual orange, and they took the game to Hearts, pressing high, but they were undone by a moment of magic.
The home side broke and the ball was fed to Renault. Boom, it flew into the net from 25 yards between the goalkeeper and the post despite a despairing dive from Walton.
The home fans were on their feet to acclaim the stunning strike, and Hearts were back on the attack minutes later, Braga winning the ball in midfield. He fed lively Kerjota on the right and he sent the ball back to the Portuguese. The ball was deflected for a corner, but Hearts were on fire.
Minutes later and Hearts claimed for a penalty after Daniel Bennie appeared to foul defender Jamie McCart. Referee Kevin Clancey went to the pitch side monitor and pointed to the spot .
Miller took responsibility and the ex-Falkirk man cooly sent the ball into the net with his left foot. No messing, just power and it opened his account for his new club. Time 12 minutes.
The fans were in full voice now, singing in the rain which flooded down from the grey sky.
United were not out of the contest and Oisin McEntee mopped up at the back from another United attack, but, overall, Hearts were keeping United at bay.
Kerjota tried to force his way into the game but he was frequently hit by hefty challenges, ending up on the soaked turf, before Lachlan Rose, who scored in United’s opening league game at home to Rangers, earned the visitors their first corner, McCart deflecting the ball over the line. It came to nothing.
United threatened when Jesse Randall and captain Dylan Tait linked. McEntee was there again.
A bruising challenge on Kerjota who had popped up in the left, angered home fans as Goodwin’s men enjoyed most of the possession, but Braga worked a position in the right with Spittal.
It resulted in Hearts’ first corner, and from the breakdown Amadou Ba-Sy let fly. Walton saved.
Then Braga fired against the foot of the right hand post with Walton helpless. The ball rebounded and was cleared as the Portugal-born player held his head in his hands.
The action was not confined to one end. Renaud was forced to head clear from a dangerous cross and United were still dangerous despite the deficit.
Slick interplay on the left had Hearts defence in sizes and sevens and the home side were undoubtedly going through a sticky patch. McEntee fouled Randall in the left edge of the box. Ferry floated a ball to the back post with no takers.
United continued to press, and McCart rose to clear another cross, but Hearts held firm during the remaining minutes and during two minutes of injury time.
No changes by Hearts at the break but United sent on Zac Sapsford for Emmanuel Agyei and McEntee had to nip in and clear from another United raid.
Sapsford almost profited from hesitancy in the Hearts defence but, minutes later, the Jambos were three ahead. Renaud carried the ball from the middle of the pitch, drove forward and found Kerjota on the right.
He played a ball into the feet of Braga who took one touch and drilled the ball home. Cue rock band Queen’s 1984 smash hit, Radio Ga Ga. Time 56 minutes.
McPake then found Kerjota in the box. His shot was blocked but, by this time, the fans were in full voice and “Hearts, Hearts glorious Hearts” emanated from the packed stands.
Goodwin had seen enough and on came Mehdi Merghem and Idjessi Metsoko. Vrancken also switched his men, Renauld and Ba-Sy off and Tomas Magnusson and Kabore on.
Then, a brilliant move followed. McPake cut in from the left wing, played a slick one-two with Braga, and then netted with his instep into the far corner. Cool, clinical, and top quality play rewarded.
More changes by both sides followed and United fashioned an opportunity in the right when Joahua Rawlins and Randall linked, but there were no takers to an inviting cross.
Substitute Magnusson, who missed the latter part of last season, showed real drive and real initiative when he came on and his cute dummy set up Braga, but the shot was blocked as United attempted to put up the shutters.
Spittal then linked with Magnusson to send Kerjota away and the move was rewarded by a corner. Minutes Kerjota, who was heavily involved in the action, blundered when he sent a ball across the pitch which Sapsford picked up and drove for goal.
His cross was aimed at Metsoko, but he just failed to connect at the back post, a real let-off.
Substitute Landry Kabore then blocked a United shot on the edge of the box and Neil Farrugia blazed over when in a good position, before stand-in captain, Spiral, sent over a cross from a free kick on the left.
Substitute James Wilson was inches from connecting and could have made it five at the back post.
Post-match, Vrancken said you could see the confidence of the players growing during the game and he praised the backing received from the stands.
He added: “We had some really good goals, great goals, and the thing which pleased him most was the team spirit.”
COOL: Oisin McEntee was prominent for Hearts at the back in the 4-0 win over Dundee United. Picture Nigel Duncan
