19th November 2017 Hearts v Partick Thistle 1-1

The new stand saga has now reached a conclusion. An announcement was made last night that the Council were happy with the safety in the ground and subject to a further Council inspection at 8.00am this morning the match would go ahead. Contractors worked through the night to rectify those areas the Council had concerns about and at around 9.30 this morning official conformation was issued that the game was on. I was really looking forward to the return to Tynecastle but every time I mentioned it I got a sarcastic response from Natalie which just proves women don't understand football. As there was to be pre-match entertainment I left the house early and after going through the new electronic turnstiles reached my seat by 2.20. Pete took the photo below from the Wheatfield stand showing me on my phone after I arrived in my new seat. While the stand looks empty most ticket holders were still outside taking photos.

The areas underneath the stand still require attention i.e. painting and general tidying up but the view from my new seat is fantastic. The entertainment started with an interview with Ann Budge follow by a couple of songs, including the Hearts Song, from Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit. The kick-off was then further  delayed by fifteen minutes due to queues at the Wheatfield Stand entrance. I later found it this was due to Wheatfield ticket holders being prevented by stewards from entering through the Gorgie Road turnstile which has been happening for years.

To be honest the game did not match the occasion. Hearts brought back Aaron Hughes, Jamie Brandon and Arnaud Djoum in place of Daniel Baur, John Souttar (injured with Scotland U-21s) and Lewis Moore. Hearts started well and Isma had a free kick from outside the box saved by Thisle keeper Thomas Cerny after Kyle Lafferty had dummied taking the kick. The game then went into a typical Hearts performance with the ball being passed about between the defensive and midfield players but little creativity or pace in evidence. Hearts had most of the pressure but other than David Milinkovic little skill was in evidence. Hearts next chance can from a low Brandon cross into the box. Lafferty controlled the ball, turned and his shot went past the post. Shortly before halftime Miles Storey of Thistle had a clear run on goal after an Hughes slip but failed to hit the target.

The second half was not much better but after 55 minutes Isma cut in from the left and from the edge of the box shot low into the next to put Hearts ahead. It was similar to his goal against Kilmarnock but nestled in the corner rather than the roof of the goal. The game continued to plod along with nothing much happening although Djoum was looking impressive albeit not creative in midfield. With about ten minutes to go Lafferty and Isma were replaced by Jamie Walker and Cole Stockton. Why when holding a one goal lead do you take off both your strikers who could clinch the game with a second goal ? With about three minutes to go Blair Spittal hit a freekick into the Hearts box. Christophe Berra's clearing header deflected of a Thistle player to Kris Doolan who shot past Jon McLaughlin. Hearts were claiming a handball for the deflection and offside for the goal. I would have gone for the latter rather than the former as no-one could have got their hands out of the way of Christophe's header. Hearts than brought on another striker Aidan Keena in an effort to win the game. The stadium announcer, Scott Wilson, claimed Aidan was a great of the Hearts Academy which I would dispute given he was only signed in August from League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic. The game petered out in draw and in truth neither side deserved to win.

After the game I walked home and arrived in the house at 17.24 in time for a meal.

Teams
Hearts: McLaughlin, M. Smith, Hughes, Berra, Brandon, Cowie, Callachan, Djoum, Milinkovic, Lafferty, Isma.
Subs: Stockton, Walker, Keena.Partick Thistle: Cerny, Turnbull, Keown, Spittal, Erskine, Lawless, Barton, Devine, McGinn, Edwards, Storey.
Subs: Doolan, Nisbet, Fraser.