Back to Premier Sports tonight for some more League Cup action at Tynecastle, still a shame that I’m watching from home and not sat in the Wheatfield. But at least we are getting to watch the boys in maroon. But this means we have to put up with Chris Sutton’s drivel but Michael Stewart isn’t much bloody better, there arguing is embarrassing.
Change in between the sticks with Ross Stewart starting and Craig Gordon dropping to the bench. In all quite a young looking eleven with Cochrane, Brandon, Moore, Henderson and McGill all starting. Great to see Peter Haring starting and wearing the captains armband, a happy sight for all Jambos.
Seeing the teams enter the pitch makes me want to back at Tynecastle that little bit more.
Early free kick as we look to get forward and looking lively from the off, from the free kick Hearts are given a penalty in the first minute as Benedictus is booked for hand ball and Craig Wighton puts the ball in the back of the net from the spot. 1-0 Hearts in the first two minutes of the game!!
After the goal my Premier Sports feed crashed so on to good old Brian’s stream I go, one plus being no Michael Stewart or Chris Sutton.
Kingsley looking good in the early stages of the game and good to see Lewis Moore getting on the ball and back starting for Hearts.
Stewart shows he’s got a good save in him as he stretches a leg to make a stop even though the ball had already gone out. Raith putting in a few balls from distance testing the Hearts defence but they are coping alright with the balls in.
Wighton does well to work the ball into the box and tried to beat the keeper at the near post but MacDonald saved, a good effort though. He then made a good run into space one on one with the keeper but was ruled offside. The game seems to be flowing a lot better than the last two games. McGill, Cochrane and Moore having a good start and may work their way into the squad for Friday.
Aidy White had a bit of hand bags after penetrating into the Raith half and squared up with Davidson after it liking being bought down. Haring and Kingsley both seem to be coping well when called upon.
As the first half ticks on I was pretty happy to have my tweet read out on Hearts TV and good to hear a bit of pub shed appreciation.
Harry Cochrane showing what he can do with a beauty of a ball out wide to Moore who then put a good ball in the box but nobody was there to get on the end of it. After this moment of class we saw a moment of comedy as Raith’s Tumilty slipped over on the touch line.
Hearts win a second penalty but unsure as to why it was awarded as Wighton was taken down outside of the box and Henderson had the ball taken off him cleanly in the box, but won’t complain as a penalty is always good to win. Wighton stepped up again as he went the same way as his first and got a second goal, a great time to get another goal just towards the end of the half. Henderson went looking for a third as he found space and moved into the box and beat the keeper with his shot but unfortunately not the Raith skipper.
Good first half, Moore looking lively as he did when he played last season which is good, Cochrane and McGill having a good game, also nice to see Stewart rarely being called upon. Hearts go in 2-0 up at the break.
Frear started the second half by heading straight into the Raith box as his effort tested MacDonald. Stewart in the Hearts goal was seeing more of the ball as it was being passed back to him more often but not really being tested by Rovers.
Roberts came on to replace White, which meant Hearts went to three at the back with two wingbacks. This lead to Hearts being caught out and on the break Duku scored an absolute screamer for Raith to make it 2-1, there was no way Stewart was stopping that one.
Jordan Roberts went down near the edge of the box looking for another penalty but was shown a yellow card for diving. Watching the replay back it was clearly a dive.
Hearts were still on the front foot as Henderson did well and found Frear who put in a great ball, the latter showing what a great crosser of the ball he is and could be a valuable player this season.
Having three at the back was leaving us open a bit, so the addition of Popescu strengthened the back a bit as we went back to four in defence. Robbie Neilson also brought on Olly Lee as Henderson and McGill parted. It was nice to see that when we gave the ball away were quick to try to win the ball back, a definite improvement from last season. The game was starting to be end to end as Raith caught the Jambos napping but Stewart smothered the ball well to end the danger.
Harry Cocrahne continued to battle well in midfield and was really impressing, he found space for a shot but put the ball well over the bar. Still good to see he has the confidence to have a go for goal. Two more changes came in midfield as Walker and Ginnelly replied Frear and Moore, changes to maybe try to make sure of the result and to give them some game time ahead of Fridays game against Dundee.
Walker was caught as he was on a run by Benedictus who was lucky to not be sent off having already been booked, the resulting free kick came to nothing. At the other end Raith had a penalty shout of their own as the ball struck Kingsley on the arm but the referee didn’t give a penalty, may have been given elsewhere.
It was nice to see Hearts still pushing for a third rather than sitting back and defending a 2-1 lead, but fair play to Raith they kept going and making a game of it. They tested Stewart from a free kick but the Hearts keeper got down well to push it away from goal, he did really well to keep the score at 2-1. Raith we’re trying to finish the game strong and push for the equaliser.
But as much as they tried it wasn’t to be, as Craig Wighton sealed the hat trick with a great goal. He was one on one with his former Dundee team mate Benedictus and with some great footwork and a nutmeg he left him for dead before smashing the ball into the net to make the match ball his and take the score to 3-1 to Hearts. Safe to say my shout of “What a goal” woke the dog up and gave the wife a fright.
The goal had knocked the stuffing out of Raith, as Lee tried a left footer from distance but he sliced it. Then with the ball on the by line Olly sent in a great cross across the box and Wighton was unlucky not get to his fourth of the game. Rovers had the last chance of the game with a shot from very far out which went over the bar and then the referee blew for full time.
A better performance from Hearts than the previous two League Cup games, great showings from the young lads who came in and good to see that we have good depth this season. Great confidence booster for Craig Wighton with his first goals in maroon. A good result and will have the team in high spirits ready for Friday’s Championship opener against Dundee.
My Man Of The Match was a close one as Elliott Frear just pips Harry Cochrane, his crossing was great and created many chance for Hearts and he seemed to be able to play as both a wide man and wingback roles when needed.
Player Ratings
Stewart – 6
Brandon – 6
Haring – 6
Kingsley – 7
White – 6
Cochrane – 8
McGill – 7
Moore – 7
Henderson – 6
Frear – 8
Wighton – 7
Popescu – 6
Roberts – 6
Ginnelly – 6
Lee – 6
Walker – 6
Next up the big Championship opener against one of our rivals for promotion, Dundee. One I’m looking forward to as I used to live up there and always loved the Jambos getting one over on them.
Thanks for reading my thoughts on Hearts against Raith Rovers.
Daz Carding
Football Days With A Salopian Jambo 