Match ends, Alloa Athletic 0, Heart of Midlothian 1.
AlloaAlloa Athletic0HeartsHeart of Midlothian1
Adam Eckersley scored a late free kick to give unbeaten Championship leaders Hearts victory at Alloa.
Dale Carrick nearly put the visitors ahead inside 30 seconds when he pulled an effort wide from six yards.
Osman Sow, Billy King and Prince Buaben also came close for Hearts, while Kevin Cawley spurned two chances for Alloa.
But, with five minutes remaining, Eckersley was fouled and the left-back fired the resulting set-piece into the bottom corner.
With their ninth win in 10 matches, the Edinburgh side now enjoy a nine-point gap over nearest challengers Rangers.
Line-ups
Alloa
Formation 4-4-2
- 21McDowall
- 17DoyleBooked at 51mins
- 4GordonBooked at 36mins
- 14Benedictus
- 3Docherty
- 7Cawley
- 6SimmonsBooked at 38mins
- 8McCord
- 10Holmes
- 19Buchanan
- 9SpenceSubstituted forFernsat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Tiffoney
- 5Meggatt
- 11Ferns
- 15Marr
- 18Hetherington
- 20Asghar
- 31Couser
Hearts
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Alexander
- 30McGheeSubstituted forPatersonat 51'minutes
- 5Ozturk
- 4Wilson
- 44Eckersley
- 12KingBooked at 55mins
- 6Gomis
- 17Buaben
- 7WalkerSubstituted forEl Hassnaouiat 73'minutes
- 20Sow
- 18CarrickSubstituted forNicholsonat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Paterson
- 3McHattie
- 9El Hassnaoui
- 10Holt
- 11Nicholson
- 13Hamilton
- 14Pallardo Gonzalez
- Referee:
- Calum Murray
- Attendance:
- 3,067
Match Stats
Home TeamAlloaAway TeamHearts
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away1
- Corners
- Home2
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Alloa Athletic 0, Heart of Midlothian 1.
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Ben Gordon (Alloa Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian).
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Michael Doyle (Alloa Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian).
Goal!
Goal! Alloa Athletic 0, Heart of Midlothian 1. Adam Eckersley (Heart of Midlothian) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Foul by Liam Buchanan (Alloa Athletic).
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Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Ben Gordon.
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Attempt missed. Michael Doyle (Alloa Athletic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.
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Foul by Ryan McCord (Alloa Athletic).
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Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Mark Docherty.
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Attempt missed. Graeme Holmes (Alloa Athletic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Edward Ferns (Alloa Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian).
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Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
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Foul by Ben Gordon (Alloa Athletic).
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Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
