Partick Thistle 1 Hearts 4

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Andy Kirk scored twice on his first start of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season to fire Hearts to a comfortable 4-1 win at Partick Thistle.

The Northern Ireland international took just 13 minutes to get his name on the scoresheet before Mark de Vries hit the second 14 minutes later.

Kirk, who had not played for the first-team since September 21, ensured head coach Craig Levein would have difficulty dropping him for the CIS Insurance Cup tie in midweek with a second on the half-hour.

Jags' substitute Ricky Waddell hauled Gerry Collins' winless side back into the game in the 63rd minute.

But Hearts' sub Stephen Simmons clinched the points 16 minutes before the end.

Partick and Hearts headed into this game desperate for the three points for very different reasons.

Thistle were still searching for their first win of the season, which would kick-start their campaign.

Hearts had suffered a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Celtic last week and the Tynecastle side knew that this visit to Glasgow provided them with the opportunity to get their league campaign back on track.

Hearts fired an early warning after just three minutes when Steven Pressley flighted a long free-kick to de Vries.

The big striker played the ball into the path of Jean-Louis Valois, who unleashed a well-struck shot but the effort was blocked by Grant Murray and the chance was lost.

The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when de Vries' flick on was met by Kirk and he produced an impressive left-footed shot to send the ball past goalkeeper Kenny Arthur and into the back of the net.

Partick were then left with a mountain to climb after 26 minutes when Hearts doubled their lead.

Neil Macfarlane played the ball through to Paul Hartley and his cross found de Vries at the back post.

The Dutchman unleashed a powerful drive that left the Partick goalkeeper with no chance.

There was worse to come for the home side when Hearts grabbed their third of the day three minutes later.

Hartley's corner was met by Kevin McKenna and he set up Kirk to nod home from just a couple of yards out.

Partick squandered a great chance to pull a goal back a minute after the re-start when David Lilley fired the ball into the box.

But both Gerry Britton and Stephane Bonnes failed to react on the six-yard line and the Hearts defence managed to clear the danger.

Hearts were guilty of a bigger wasted opportunity seconds later when the visitors broke down the park and de Vries found himself with only Arthur to beat at the near post.

But the big Dutchman fluffed the shot and sent the ball out for a goal-kick instead.

With the second half less than 10 minutes old, Partick used their remaining substitutions when Bonnes and Kenny Milne were replaced by Waddell and Emmanuel Panther.

Thistle's hard work paid off after 62 minutes when they managed to haul a goal back.

Jags' debutant Adrian Madaschi nodded on to Britton and he fired the ball into the path of substitute Waddell to allow him to unleash a tremendous 20-yard drive to send the ball into the back of the net.

But Partick's attempts at a fightback appeared futile when Hearts added to their goal tally with 16 minutes remaining.

Kirk had already grabbed two goals and turned provider to supply the cross for Simmons to bundle the ball over the line and put the game beyond the home side.

Teams:

Partick Arthur, Madaschi, Lilley, Whyte, Murray, Milne (Waddell 54), Mitchell, Rowson, Thomson (Britton 34), Taylor, Bonnes (Panther 53).

Subs Not Used: Mikkelsen, Anis.

Goals: Waddell 63.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Kisnorbo, Pressley, McKenna, MacFarlane (Simmons 62), Severin, Hartley, de Vries (Wyness 82), Kirk (Maybury 90), Valois.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Webster.

Booked: Pressley, Neilson.

Goals: Kirk 13, de Vries 27, Kirk 30, Simmons 74.

Att: 4,814

Ref: W Young (Scotland).



Taken from sportinglife.com