Pereira shines but Hearts draw blank

ROSS COUNTY 0-0 HEARTS

ALASDAIR FRASER AT VICTORIA PARK

AROUND 200 Hearts fans who made the marathon trip to Dingwall endured a scoreless draw against Ross County but were cheered by a highly promising display by new signing Ramon Pereira.

The summer capture from Raith Rovers was a stand-out in a lively encounter as he made his first appearance for Hearts on Scottish soil. He earned enthusiastic applause as he was subbed in 73 minutes.

But the Premierleague outfit were held by a County side who also looked sharp and dangerous at times.

Ross County were close to full strength with former Tynecastle striker Gary McSwegan spearheading their attack.

The hosts had early opportunities with a Steven McGarry strike saved by Tepi Moilanen.

Pereira came close with a header hooked off the County line after 23 minutes and Graham Weir - a scorer against Airdrie on Saturday - also drew a fine block from County’s new player-coach Stuart Garden, with Christophe Berra chipping over from the rebound.

Hearts were the most commanding side as half-time approached. There was a strong penalty claim waved away six minutes before the break when Pereira went down in the box under Garden’s attentions. Martin Canning also spared Garden by blocking on the line after a shot by Stephen Simmons.

Just three minutes after the break, Hearts came closest to breaking the deadlock. John Rankin’s foul set up McAllister for a 20-yard free-kick and Garden had to pull off a fine diving save to prevent the opener. The best chance of the evening fell to Graham Weir late on as he struck a 15-yard shot square against the post.

Levein said earlier that he remains confident of having four of his key players fit for the start of the season after they missed last night’s trip.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, striker Mark de Vries, and defenders Kevin McKenna and Andy Webster were all absent from the trip to Dingwall because of knocks.

The Gorgie outfit take on Fulham on Saturday and Levein indicated that, even if they miss that game, he believes the quartet will definitely be available for the season’s opener against Dundee on 7 August.

Ross County: Garden, Robertson, McCulloch, McCunnie, Canning, Lauchlan, Rankin, Cowie, McSwegan (Winters 78), McGarry (Higgins 73), Burke (MacKay 73). Subs not used: McCaffery, Malcom, Kilgannon.

Hearts: Moilanen, Neilson (Maybury 45), Pressley (MacFarlane 45), Berra, McAllister, Sloan (Wyness 75), Janczyk (Hartley 84), Kisnorbo, Simmons (Stamp 78), Weir, Pereira (Hamill, 73). Subs not used: Barjaktarevic.

Referee: M Ritchie.

Taken from the Scotsman