30th April 2020 Hearts 0 Ross County 0

 


Well things had to change after fourteen goals so far in two matches this week. Today it was Hearts v Ross County in the SPL with Hearts having already secured third sport and County looking to move into fourth/fifth and a European place next season. I left home just after 14.00 and strolled down to Tynecastle. I had ordered my cup final ticket online yesterday for collection at Tynecastle but one look at the ticket office queue made me decide to come down again next week to collect it. I was at my seat by 14.30. To watch the teams warming up. For those of you wonerdering who was on the programme cover today was announcer Scott Wilson’s last day in the job. After twenty years. No longer will we hear ‘Come on Tynecastle let’s make some noise’. 

Hearts had won at Dundee United last week but with a under strength side and while Andy Halliday and Steven Kingsley returned to the squad they were only considered fit enough for the substitutes bench.still suffering from injury problems.Michael Smith, John Souttar, Beni Baningime, Aaron McEneff and Craig Halkett were still on the sidelines. In addition  Cammy Devlin ha suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem while Ellis Simms was again on the bench due to a minor injury. Ross County under manager Malky Mackay recovered from a poor start to the season to make the top six after the SPL split. With the top five qualifying for European football next season they have a chance of making the European Conference League players-offs. Their starting eleven included two ex-Hearts players in Connor Randall and Ross Callachan. Grenadian international Regan Charles-Cook is County's main goal threat  and with thirteen goals is among the SPLs top scorers this season.

County had the first attempt at goal with a shot for Randall forcing Craig gordon into a save. Josh Ginnelly was looking pacy on the right wing but his crossing was not accurate enough to allow Hearts any goal attempt. Ben Woodburn had Hearts first shot at goal but this was comfortable for Ross Laidlaw to make a save. Jordan White ‘scored' for County just after the half hour mark but the assistant referees flag was raised for offside against the striker. 

The second half started with Hearts having the first chance. Nate Atkinson ran into the penalty area on to a good pass from Woodburn. The full-back cuts the ball back to Ginnnelly on the edge of the area but his shot flew high over the cross-bar. Taylor Moore then had header from a Barrie McKay corner saved by Loidlaw as Hearts continued to press forward. The game  was looking like a certain goal-less draw despite the induction of Halliday and Simms who came on from Gary Mackay-Steven and Woodburn. Shortly after the changes McKay fed a though ball to Liam Boyce. His attempt at gaol was however saved by Laidlaw. In injury time a pass from Halliday left Boyce clear on the left of the penalty box. His shot across goal curled wide of the far post just before the final whistle.

A point apiece was probably fair although Hearts had the bulk of the play. However with the Cup Final in three weeks time and a guarantee of a minimum of eight European games next season this is a good time to be a Hearts fan. I walked home fairly happy and then settled down to watch manchester City demolish Leeds in the Sky live match.



Teams
Hearts: Gordon, Sibbick, Moore, Cochrane, Atkinson, Haring, Woodburn, Mackay-Steven, Ginnelly, McKay, Boyce
Subs: Halliday, Simms

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Vokins, Cancola, Spittal, Callachan, Watson, Iacovitti, Charles-Cook, Tillson, White 
Subs: Paton, Samuel, Hungbo

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