25th November 2017 Hearts v Ross County 0-0

I don't really know what to say about this game. I left home at 14.05 and walked down to Tynecastle and took my seat in new stand. A three-some came and sat next to me and it turned out they were Cole Stockton's parents and sister who had come up from Liverpool to watch him. It was really cold and miserable and one floodlight pylon was not working which sort of summed up the game as it was driech.

Hearts made three changes from last week bringing in Harry Cochrane, Jamie Walker and Cole Stockton. Throughout the whole game Hearts were on top albeit Ross County hit the post through Alex Schalk in three minutes and then he had a goal ruled out for offside later in on the first half. I thought the  Hearts midfield was far better than last week with Walker and Arnaud Djoum having their best games of the season so far. It just seemed Hearts missed a goal scorer. I like Isma as a player although I think he is a good scorer of good goals rather than a good goal scorer. By that I mean he is not a John Robertson type who will knock in rebounds in the box but more someone who will score a good goal through his individual skill. Unfortunately today was not his day and he missed a couple of sitters when he could not connect with rebounds from the Ross County keeper.

Hearts during the game had twenty-three shots against five by Ross County but as Michael Stewart said on Sportscene they were generally from outside the penalty box and not clear goal scoring opportunities. The refereeing did not help the game as John Beaton allowed Ross County to get away with blatant time wasting and also feigning injury. Stockton had a good headed chance in the first half which was well saved by McCarey in the County goal.

The second half was more of the same with good movement by Hearts in midfield but no clear scoring opportunities. The closest Hearts came to victory was a Christophe Berra header late on which was scrambled away by the County keeper with Isma unable to get to the rebound. Cochrane was impressive in midfield and generally found a Hearts player with his passes but was struggling to cope with the physicality of the Ross County side and eventually substituted by Don Cowie. Hughes only lasted till halftime before being replaced by Prince Bauben and I am not sure if he can continue much longer as a first choice die to his age and fitness record.

There were a number of fans booing as the teams left the pitch but I thought it was a better performance that last week against Patrick. Walked home and then settled down to watch the Scotland rugby side against Australia. 

Teams

Hearts: McLaughlin, M. Smith, Berra, Hughes, Brandon, Djoum, Cochrane , Walker, Isma, Milinkovic, Stockton. 

Subs: Bauben, Cowie, Lafferty.

Ross County: McCarey, Fraser, Naismith, Routis, Kelly, Gardyne, Schalk, Davies, Draper, O'Brien, Keillor-Dunn. 

Subs: Lindsay, Dow, Curran.