Hearts hit three as JJ gets home debut win

Lee Wallace, Suso Santana and Ian Black netted the goals as Hearts produced a much improved performance to secure victory over Falkirk today. The scoreline might have been tight but there was plenty to enthuse the 14,000 strong crowd.

Of course, a few familiar faces were back at Tynecastle, too. Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown were back in the dug-out for the home side and former Hearts captain Steven Pressley was leading Falkirk in his first game as their manager.

Jim made three changes to the team which lost to Celtic during the week with Suso, Novikovas and Glen all starting. Stewart missed out through suspension, Mulrooney dropped to the bench and Nade was left out the squad.

Hearts hit the front when Lee Wallace scored a brilliant goal in the fourth minute. There appeared to be no threat to Falkirk as the Hearts left-back stood out on the left with the ball, but his cross in to the box was miss-hit and went straight past Olejnik much to the surprise of everyone in the ground.

The early goal meant Falkirk were immediately on the back foot. They defended well against the pressure, though. The match stopped so Falkirk's Brian McLean could receive treatment following a clash of heads with David Obua. The Falkirk defender had to be treated for a burst nose but was soon back on the pitch after being stiched up.

Hearts came close to doubling their lead when Novikovas crossed a ball in from the left and David Obua headed the ball in, but the referee had already blown his whistle as the ball had gone out of play. It had bee a flowing move - much to admire, for sure.

The next real chance of the match fell to the men in Maroon. Olejnik spilled a long range effort from Stevenson and Gary Glen ran in to follow up, but the Falkirk keeper reacted quickly and smothered the ball away from the striker's feet.

Before Falkirk's eventual equaliser, Falkirk won a free kick which Eggert Jonsson was required to clear from the goal-line. With significantly less threat, the Bairns actually scored.

There looked to be no danger when Marc Twaddle played a ball into the box but Kucharski hit the ball straight past his own keeper into the Hearts net, much to the delight of Steven Pressley and the Falkirk contingent.

Falkirk made a change to their side at half time with Enoch Showunmi replacing Jack Compton. The away side were lively in the opening minutes of the second half; clearly wanting more than a point from this fixture

Their determination was evident in the 52nd minute when Scott Arfield played a brilliant ball through to substitute Showunmi, which split the Hearts defence. The big Londoner played the ball back to Carl Finnigan in the box, but his shot went just over Kello's goal. He should have scored.

Again it was Falkirk who came close to scoring; Burton O'Brien took a free kick from twenty yards out with his effort going just past Kello's left hand post. It seemed the game would get at least another goal and it came in the 58th minute - but for Hearts, thankfully!

Persistent play by Ian Black gave Hearts the break of the ball. Novikovas crossed it in from left to the head of David Obua. He challenged Olejnik fairly, and the ball fell to Suso who smashed home Hearts second.

It wasn't long before Tynecastle was celebrating again, this time Ian Black found himself in space 25 yards out and unleashed a shot which flew into the top left hand corner. It was the midfielder's first goal for his boyhood hero's and he may not score a better one!

Although Hearts played some smashing stuff at this junction, and might just have knicked a fourth it was Falkirk to made it a nervy finale.

Seven minutes from time, Pedro Moutinho skipped past three Hearts players before sending a powerful shot straight past Kello to bring Falkirk right back into the game.

Hearts managed to hold on though to give Jim Jefferies his first three points in his second stint as manager.

Hearts: Kello; Jonsson, Kucharski, Zaliukas, Wallace; Suso (Elliot 75), Black (Mulrooney, 85), Stevenson, Novikovas (Smith 88); Glen, Obua. Subs not used: Balogh, Witteveen, R Wallace, Balatoni,

Falkirk: Olejnik, McLean, Scobbie, Twaddle, Barr, O'Brien, Arfield, Compton (Showunmi, 45), Finnigan, Healy (Moutinho, 68), Flynn. Subs not used: Wagenaar, Duffie, Stewart, Moutinho, Lynch, Murdoch.

Referee: Dougie McDonald

Top man: Marius Zaliukas

Hearts World