Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Hamilton Academical 0.
HeartsHeart of Midlothian2HamiltonHamilton Academical0
Hearts cut the gap between themselves and Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to three points with victory over Hamilton Academical.
Prince Buaben scored with a shot from outside the area as its awkward bounce evaded keeper Michael McGovern.
Arnaud Djoum took advantage of poor defending to double the lead before half-time.
Hamilton failed to conjure up a comeback with the better chances falling to Hearts in the second half.
The result means Hearts stretch their unbeaten league run to six matches, and remain in second place.
In a first half that was at times ill-tempered, the home side dominated.
The visitors were rarely able to test Neil Alexander in the Hearts goal and have now gone five games without a win.
Accies had inflicted Hearts' first defeat of the season back in August in a controversial match that included a red card for Callum Paterson.
There appeared to be some lingering bad feeling from that encounter with a physical edge to both teams' play.
Buaben put Hearts ahead with a powerfully-struck low drive from 25 yards, which McGovern may feel he should have kept out in front of watching Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill.
Alexander saved superbly from a glancing Carlton Morris header just prior to Hearts taking a stranglehold on the game.
The impressive Sam Nicholson swept a cross to the back post, Antons Kurakins failed to deal with it and Osman Sow showed great composure to take a touch before selflessly setting up Djoum for an easy close-range finish.
A home victory was never in doubt thereafter and McGovern kept the scoreline respectable, saving well from Paterson's free kick and twice denying Sow what would have been a deserved goal for his efforts.
Accies may point to a decision from referee Bobby Madden to book Morris for diving when it looked as though he might have earned a penalty for a challenge by Blazej Augustyn.
However, Martin Canning's side, though not out-classed, were second best as Hearts eased to a fourth successive league win.
Line-ups
Hearts
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Alexander
- 2Paterson
- 4Augustyn
- 18Rossi
- 22McGhee
- 16Sutchuin-DjoumSubstituted forPallardo Gonzalezat 69'minutes
- 8Buaben
- 6GomisBooked at 34mins
- 11NicholsonSubstituted forSwansonat 80'minutes
- 10Sow
- 19Delgado LloriaBooked at 21minsSubstituted forReillyat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 12King
- 13Hamilton
- 14Pallardo Gonzalez
- 20Reilly
- 23Swanson
- 28Smith
- 44Zanatta
Hamilton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McGovern
- 2Gordon
- 24TenaSubstituted forSendles-Whiteat 37'minutesBooked at 59mins
- 44De Lima TagliapietraBooked at 14mins
- 3Kurakins
- 8TurnerBooked at 6minsSubstituted forLongridgeat 45'minutes
- 7ImrieSubstituted forNadeat 76'minutes
- 18MacKinnonBooked at 54mins
- 12Kurtaj
- 21Docherty
- 14MorrisBooked at 65mins
Substitutes
- 9D'Acol
- 10Redmond
- 15Sendles-White
- 17Longridge
- 26Martin
- 27Nade
- 30Boyd
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 16,121
Match Stats
Home TeamHeartsAway TeamHamilton
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Hamilton Academical 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Michael McGovern.
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Foul by Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian).
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Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Academical).
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Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Miguel Pallardó.
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Attempt missed. Lucas (Hamilton Academical) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
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Attempt saved. Callum Paterson (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Danny Swanson replaces Sam Nicholson because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Miguel Pallardó (Heart of Midlothian).
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Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Christian Nade replaces Dougie Imrie.
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Attempt missed. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) header from the right side of the box is too high.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Darian MacKinnon.
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Attempt saved. Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
