Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Queen of the South 0.
HeartsHeart of Midlothian2Queen of SthQueen of the South0
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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Formation 4-5-1
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Queen of the South 0.
Post update
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Michael Paton (Queen of the South).
Post update
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ian McShane (Queen of the South).
Post update
Foul by Soufian El Hassnaoui (Heart of Midlothian).
Post update
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.
Post update
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Kidd (Queen of the South).
Post update
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Chris Higgins.
Post update
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Kidd (Queen of the South).
Post update
Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Queen of the South) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
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.
Post update
Delay in match Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Soufian El Hassnaoui replaces Osman Sow.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin Holt (Queen of the South) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
