18th January 2020 Hearts v Airdrie 5-0

This is the first game for Hearts since the winter break and it has been an interesting time. New manager Daniel Stendel has started reshaping the squad to play the style of pressing football he expects. Aidan Keena has left to join Hartlepool while Glenn Whelan’s contract has been cancelled by mutual consent. Additionally captain Christophe Berra, Jake Mulraney, Craig Wighton and Colin Doyle have been told they can leave and are currently training with the reserves. Loanees Harry Cochrane, Anthony MacDonald, Connor Smith and Alex Petkov have been recalled and are looking for first team opportunities. I had arranged to meet Ivan for drinks after the match but he has also decided to come along. To allow us to sit together I have given up my season ticket seat and we have taken two seats in Section S of the Main Stand in row 7 which is nearer pitch level than I normally sit. After lunch I left home at just after 14.00 to walk down to Gorgie. Ivan was getting a 2 bus and I met him at Gorgie City Farm around 14.20. We crossed the road towards Tynecastle to take our seats in the stand. Ivan had not been in the Main Stand before so we wandered around to see the sights taking our seats about 14.40.

I knew there would be changes from the last match against Aberdeen as new captain Steven Naismith, John Souttar, Conor Washington and Jamie Walker were returning from injury. The first three started with Walker on the bench. The big surprise in the team was the selection of Lewis Moore for his first start since May 2018. He had been on loan at Forfar last season and Falkirk this but has now returned to start in a right sided midfield role. Airdrie have always been difficult side to beat and in the 1990's twice knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup while under the managership of ex-Hearts boss Alex MacDonald. Airdrie who are now managed by ex-Hibs player Ian Murray have recently appointed former Hearts Scottish Cup hero Colin Cameron as assistant manager. Former Hearts striker Dale Carrick was included in their starting line-up with other former players Scott Gallagher and Ali Roy on the bench. Hearts Championship season squad stalwart Adam Eckersley was omitted from the Airdrie line-up.

Hearts started well and took the lead in seven minutes. Irving took a short corner to Naismith who returned the ball to him just inside the penalty area. Irving stepped to the side of a defender and hit a low ball across goal which found the net at the far post. From where I was sitting it looked more like a cross that a shot but it was good to see an early goal. Hearts were continuing to playing  an attacking style although Souttar was caught out once attempting to play out from the back although he recovered to win the ball back from an Airdrie forward. Moore and Euan Henderson were looking good in their wide roles and Irving was passing well in midfield. The only downside in the first half was the loss of Aaron Hickey and Michael Smith to injury. Hickey went down after around twenty minutes and seemed to have recovered after treatment but was replaced after twenty-seven minutes by Ben Garuccio. Smith also returned to the pitch after treatment but was replaced by Oliver Bozanic after forty-one minutes. Hopefully both will recover for the league fixture in Dingwall on Wednesday. Just before halftime Hearts had a great chance to extend their lead. Washington beat the offside trap on the right and headed towards goal. David Hutton rushed from the Airdrie goal and Washington slipped he ball past him but was forced wide. Naismith was screaming for an early pass in the middle but when the ball reached him it was slightly behind him and he shot over the bar under pressure from back-tracking defenders.

Minutes into the second half Moore forced a good save from Hutton after Henderson cut the ball back to him. The second goal was not long delayed and arrived after fifty-four minutes. Garrucio sent in a cross from the left which was headed clear by an Airdrie defender. The ball flew towards Sean Clare just inside the penalty area on the right hand side of the box. The stand-in fullback took the ball on the volley and sent a dipping shot into the top left hand corner of the net for a two nil lead. Two minutes later Naismith hit a third goal. He passed the ball to Henderson who made a run to the byeline then cut the ball back into the six yard box. Naismith had followed the run and had no difficulty in shooting home. Hearts continued to press although Airdrie looked dangerous on the break. On one occasion Periera had to run from his goal to clear a through ball which he eventually booted to safety from close to the right hand touchline. Henderson scored his first goal for Hearts in the seventy-first minute. The goal was almost a carbon copy of the first with Naismith cutting the ball across goal after a run to the byeline. Henderson bundled the ball home from close range after getting in front of Hutton to meet the cross. As the game moved into injury time Hearts scored a fifth and final goal. A corner by Irving was met first time by Halkett about eight yards out. His shot did not seem powerful by squirmed underneath the diving Hutton into the net. The game restarted and the referee immediately blew the final whistle with Hearts now through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup. 

Ivan and I walked to Gorgie Road and caught a 1 bus to Lothian Road where we headed for the Shakespeare bar. Natalie joined us about 17.30 after we had dissected a fine Hearts performance. It was good to see younger players in the side playing a more attacking style of football and hopefully this will continue in the League campaign to allow Hearts to move way from the relegation area. 

Hearts: Periera, Clare, Hickey, Souttar, Smith, Halkett, Moore, Irving, Washington, Naismith, Henderson.
Subs: Garuccio, Bozanic, Walker.

Airdrie: Hutton, MacDonald, Kerr, Crighton, Fordyce, C. Gallacher, McKay, Carrick, Smith, Millar, McCann.
Subs: Wedderburn, Thomson, Roy.