Hearts 3 Ross County 0

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Second-half goals from Steven Pressley, Jean-Louis Valois and Stephen Simmons helped Hearts overcome battling Ross County and secure a place in the fourth round of the CIS Cup.

In a nervous first 45 minutes the home side had created and missed a barrowload of chances before eventually wearing down the Highlanders after the break to produce a scoreline which reflected their superiority.

With both teams playing five across the middle from the kick-off, the game became congested in that area with few early chances created.

Hearts' first corner came in the eight minute and Jean-Louis Valois' cross was headed onto the bar and over by unmarked defender Kevin McKenna who might have done better.

Moments later Hearts midfielder Neil Janczyk's left foot volley from 25 yards was saved by County keeper Tony Bullock under his cross bar.

And as the home side applied the pressure striker Mark De Vries looped a header over the bar from a Paul McMullan cross.

As the first half wore on, the Tynecastle men took control of the game, pushing County back into their own half and after good work by Stephen Simmons on the left, De Vries's side -footed a shot from the edge of the box straight into the arms of Bullock.

Four minutes later, at the other end, Simmons picked up a Steven Pressley pass and came close with a good drive from 20 yards which went narrowly past Bullock's left hand post.

When Hearts striker Gary Wales' flying header from 10 yards from a curling Alan Maybury cross also went wide, it was starting to look like one of those nights for the home team.

Simmons and De Vries both had chances again to open the scoring before half time but the impressive Bullock was in top form, keeping the home side at bay.

Two minutes into the second half Wales turned nicely and had a left foot effort from the edge of the box but again the ball went wide of the post.

County seemed content to hold out and look for the occasional break forward although Pressley in the Hearts defence was, when needed, operating the offside trap well.

The home side eventually took the lead in the 55th minute courtesy of a penalty after County defender Martin Canning had tripped Wales in the box.

There were no protests by the visitors and Steven Pressley confidently stepped up to slam the ball high into the net giving Bullock no chance.

The goal seemed to take the pressure off the home side and in the 58th minute they scored a deserved second.

Youngster Paul McMullan swung a cross in from the right hand side of the box and found Valois unmarked at the back post and the Frenchman hammered the ball in from around eight yards out.

In the 67th minute Hearts keeper Roddy McKenzie saved well from close range from substitute Connor Gethins who had just replaced Graham Bayne.

Moments later, as the visitors pressed, Hislop rattled the post and the ball sped across the goal line and out to safety. It was nervous times for the home fans as their side panicked under attack from the First Division outfit.

But in the 80th minute Simmons eased the tension when he rifled a 25 yard drive low into the corner of the net to finally seal the victory.

Teams

Hearts: McKenzie, Pressley, McKenna, Webster, Maybury, Simmons (Twaddle 85), Janczyk (McGeown 89), McMullan, Wales (Kirk 75), de Vries, Valois.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Dunn.

Goals: Pressley 56 pen, Valois 59, Simmons 85.

Ross County: Bullock, Canning, Deas, Irvine, Bayne (Gethins 63), McCulloch, Robertson, Gilbert, Mackay (Cowie 88), McGarry (Higgins 90), Hislop.

Subs Not Used: Webb, Fridge.

Att: 6,454

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com