Hearts 1-0 Hamilton Accies

Csaba Laszlo’s side were forced to fight for 90 furious minutes against a Hamilton side desperate for three points of their own.

But giant striker Christian Nade proved just how charitable he could be to his pals on a night where he finally scored his first goal of the season after 13 games — and could have had five.

Jambos boss Laszlo was delighted with the battling win. He said: “The performance wasn’t the best but the important thing is the three points.

“We’ve not been pretty recently but the main thing is we’re winning.

“We lacked something in the middle of the park, maybe some confidence, but we did well. Christian Nade had some great chances but he picked up a bit of an injury and had to come off.

“Hamilton don’t play like a team at the bottom of the table so I’m really happy.”

Hamilton were still settling into the game when Nade powered Hearts ahead in the sixth minute.

Bruno Aguiar flicked on for the Frenchman to tear through the Accies defence with his sheer strength and pace.

Martin Canning and Mark McLaughlin both tried to wrestle the ball off the Jambos frontman, but he held them off to poke under Tomas Cerny.

Laszlo’s men looked in the mood to kill the game there and then. Nade turned provider for Aguiar, this time the shot trickled to safety

Hearts were crisp and confident with their passing as they clicked into top gear. And the opening exchanges flashed past Accies, who seemed nervy as their rotten run of form stifled the swagger they flaunted early in the season.

There was nothing wrong with Nade’s confidence on 30 minutes when he came close to scoring a spectacular second.

Berra lofted in the free-kick, Nade controlled as he fell back but somehow stayed on his feet to volley inches past.

He was at it again minutes later when David Obua released him with a brilliant through ball. The hulking striker unleashed a wicked effort Accies keeper Cerny could only punch to safety.

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One man who refused to accept defeat was James McCarthy. He’s still tee-total — even as he turned 18 yesterday — but one thing’s for sure. He loves the boos.

He was given pelters from the Jambos fans but the kid just seemed to thrive on the abuse as Accies scrapped for a point they would have deserved.

Unfortunately, though, they had little in the way of inspiration up top.

The same couldn’t be said for Hearts and once again Nade proved what a thrilling talent he can be.

Lee Wallace fizzed a cross from the left, Nade swivelled and must have shaved the paint off Cerny’s goal with a wicked scissor kick.

At the other end Lucas Akins had virtually been an empty shirt for Accies and he never re-appeared for the second half, Richard Offiong coming on.

Unfortunately for the frustrated Hamilton boss the one striker he must have wished he could take off was still on the park and still causing problems.

Six minutes into the second half Nade was making a nuisance of himself but after latching on to Aguiar’s cross, he somehow blazed over from six yards.

Nothing was going right for the SPL strugglers. Offiong missed a sitter, then was wrongly judged to be offside as he charged through on goal.

McCarthy could have had a penalty after Marius Zaliukas seemed to clip him in the box, but ref Dougie McDonald didn’t want to know as sorry Accies slumped to yet another defeat.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid said: “Nade looked lively and he caused problems.

“Martin Canning’s made a bit of a mistake for the goal and he knows that. You can’t do that at this level because you get punished and I hope we learn.”

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN: Christian Nade — quality goal but could have bagged few more.

HEARTS: Balogh 6, Jonsson 6, Zaliukas 6, Berra 7, Wallace 6, Driver 6, Karipidis 6, Palazuelos 5, Aguiar 7, Obua 6 (Neilson 3), Nade 8 (Mole 5).

HAMILTON: Cerny 6, McLenahan 6 (Thomas 3), McLaughlin 7, Canning 7, Easton 6, Mensing 6, McArthur 5 (Gibson3), Neil 6, Graham 6, McCarthy 7, Akins 5 (Offiong 5). Booked: Mensing.

REFEREE: Dougie McDonald 7.

TOP MEN: Christian Nade (Hearts); James McCarthy (Hamilton).