Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Queen of the South 0.
Hearts 2-0 Queen of the South
By Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport at Tynecastle
- From the section Football
Hearts kick-started their Tynecastle title party with a convincing win over a lacklustre Queen of the South.
Goals in each half from Osman Sow and Alim Ozturk were enough for the home side in a match where they rarely looked troubled.
It was the second defeat in less than a week for James Fowler's side though, who seem to be stalling in their battle for the play-offs.
But the day belonged to Hearts a week after they were crowned champions.
Robbie Neilson named the same side which saw off Falkirk last weekend and was determined that his side would not be taking the foot off the gas.
His words were heeded with Hearts ahead in only a matter of minutes.
Swedish forward Osman Sow skipped through the Queens defence and expertly drilled the ball low into the net from 12 yards.
The party tunes were cranked up in the stands and the sell-out crowd knew that, once again, it was going to be their day.
Sow almost made it two shortly afterwards, but his fierce shot on the angle smashed into the side netting.
The gusty conditions made free-flowing football tricky, but Hearts stroked the ball around with the confidence and the swagger of champions.
Jamie Walker's trickery on the wing almost led to number two just before the break. He twisted and turned and his ball into the box was back-heeled by Sow but Clark clawed it away to safety.
The visitors should have been ahead just minutes after the re-start but Derek Lyle blasted high over from four yards after goalkeeper Neil Alexander failed to hold a long-range Mark Milar effort.
Sensing a Queens fightback, Hearts found another gear and Walker almost doubled the lead but his curling effort from the right-hand side was deflected just wide.
The second goal came midway through the first half and it was the long-range specialist Alim Ozturk who got his name on the scoresheet.
His 25-yard free-kick took a wicked deflection on its way to goal and wrong-footed Clark before trundling just inside the post.
Not a classic but it killed off any thoughts of Queens spoiling the impending celebrations.
The rest of the match played out like an exhibition - Queens knew they were beaten and Hearts just wanted to party.
Line-ups
Hearts
- 1Alexander
- 2Paterson
- 4Wilson
- 5Ozturk
- 44Eckersley
- 12KingSubstituted forNicholsonat 59'minutes
- 14Pallardo Gonzalez
- 6Gomis
- 7Walker
- 20SowSubstituted forEl Hassnaouiat 77'minutes
- 23ZeefuikSubstituted forKeatingsat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 3McHattie
- 9El Hassnaoui
- 11Nicholson
- 15Gallacher
- 19Keatings
- 21Anderson
- 22McKay
Queen of Sth
- 1Clark
- 4Dowie
- 5Durnan
- 6HigginsBooked at 45mins
- 3Holt
- 17Carmichael
- 10Reilly
- 15Paton
- 8MillarSubstituted forKiddat 69'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 14McKennaSubstituted forMcShaneat 64'minutes
- 19LyleSubstituted forSmithat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Kidd
- 18McShane
- 20Atkinson
- 22Hooper
- 23Smith
- 24Smith
- 28Pickard
- Referee:
- Craig Thomson
- Attendance:
- 16,855
Match Stats
Home TeamHeartsAway TeamQueen of Sth
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away16
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Queen of the South 0.
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Michael Paton (Queen of the South).
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ian McShane (Queen of the South).
Foul by Soufian El Hassnaoui (Heart of Midlothian).
Daniel Carmichael (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Lewis Kidd (Queen of the South) is shown the yellow card.
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Kidd (Queen of the South).
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Chris Higgins.
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis Kidd (Queen of the South).
Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Queen of the South) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt missed. Mark Durnan (Queen of the South) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Queen of the South. Aidan Smith replaces Derek Lyle.
Delay in match Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Soufian El Hassnaoui replaces Osman Sow.
Attempt missed. Kevin Holt (Queen of the South) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Corner, Queen of the South. Conceded by Danny Wilson.
Delay in match Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. James Keatings (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Queen of the South. Lewis Kidd replaces Mark Millar.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. James Keatings replaces Género Zeefuik.
Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Queen of the South 0. Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mark Durnan (Queen of the South).
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Chris Higgins.
Attempt blocked. Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Queen of the South. Ian McShane replaces Stephen McKenna.
Foul by Miguel Pallardó (Heart of Midlothian).
Derek Lyle (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Stephen McKenna.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Sam Nicholson replaces Billy King.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Chris Higgins.
Attempt blocked. Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mark Millar (Queen of the South).