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Eliott the hero as Hearts ease past Accies |
It wasn't a game to remember as Hearts beat Hamilton 2-0 at New Douglas Park but the fans were able to head home happy after another three points were secured.
Stephen Elliott got both goals as the Jambos took another step in securing third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
There were two changes to the side which lost to Rangers; Andy Webster was given a place in the starting line-up. Lee Wallace returned to the starting eleven with Bouzid and Mrowiec dropping to the bench.
The game started brightly for Hearts, they were comfortably passing the ball about the park and got a free kick in the 7th minute when Martin Canning caught Skacel late. Craig Thomson stepped up to take the free kick but it was directed straight at Tomas Cerny in the Hamilton goal.
Hearts patiently continued to pass the ball around and it paid off in the 21st minute when they took the lead. Wallace crossed the ball in from the left and Stephen Elliott headed the ball into the top left corner, leaving Cerny with no chance of stopping it.
Hamilton were gaining slightly more possession but the chance of another goal always looked likely to come from the Jambos. Craig Thomson came close to scoring in the 31st minute when he unleashed a powerful effort from out side the box but it went just wide of the post.
The game wasn't full of action or talking points but Hearts were pushing forward for a second goal, Palazuelos was next up with a right footed shot on the each of the box; however it was deflected just wide of the post.
Hearts were dominating the match and it was no different in the second half when they doubled their lead within a minute of it starting. There was a stramash in the box and Zaliukus' header came off the thigh of Stephen Elliott to take the ball away from the keeper into the back of the net, putting the Jambos 2-0 up.
Hamilton's first real effort on goal game two minutes later when Elebert put in a powerful header but Kello got down low to hold it well.
Hearts were next to have a shot on goal, the ball broke to Suso and along with Skacel had two Hamilton players to beat. He played the ball out left to the Czech international who passed it to the feet of Elliott. His subsequent shot was tipped over the bar by Cerny. Hat-trick denied.
A couple minutes later the ball broke for Hamilton to be chased by Antoine-Curier, but Thomson stuck with him and the striker didn't manage to get a shot on goal.
The few minutes of play was the busiest period of the match so far and Hamilton were slowly putting more pressure on Hearts, mainly through the efforts of the Paixao twins, but the Jambos were coping comfortably.
Jim Jefferies decided to switch things around by taking Craig Thomson and Suso off and bringing Driver and Templeton on. It meant Jonsson moved to right back and Skacel dropped back into the midfield.
Hamilton had another opportunity to get a goal back in the 73rd minute when Jim McAlister unleashed a powerful low shot but again Kello got down and held the ball well.
The home side got their first corner of the match in the 85th minute, underlining just how little they'd been attacking Hearts goal. In the end it really was comfortable stuff, but with Kilmarnock losing Hearts went 15 points clear in third.
Hamilton: Cerny, Skelton, Canning, McLaughlin, Imrie (M Paixo, 54), McAlister, Buchanan (F Paixo, 45), Routledge, Elebert, Gordon (Carrington, 45), Antoine-Curier Subs not used: Murdoch, Graham, Casalinuovo, Elliot
Hearts: Kello, C,Thomson (Driver, 69), Webster, Zaliukus, Wallace, Black (Mrowiec, 80), Palazuelos, Suso (Templeton, 69), Jonsson, Skacel, Elliott Subs not used: MacDonald, Bouzid, Stevenson, Glen
Referee: Stevie O'Reilly
Top man: Stephen Elliott
