Biggest SPL away day win in ten years at NDP
From Hearts News at New Douglas Park

Hearts secured a sensational away-day victory here at New Douglas Park this afternoon on a day when pretty much everything went well for the Tynecastle side.

Calum Elliot and David Templeton scored first half screamers before Kevin Kyle added a penalty kick 15 minutes from time to make the win secure.

Elliot's second ten minutes from the end nailed a wonderful away day for the travelling Jambo army who watched Hearts' biggest away win in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League in ten years.

If Elliot and Templeton's goals were spectacular there was utter delight at the third and fourth, sealing a memorable three points.

The only downside was a red card for Ruben Palazuelos, who picked up two yellow cards. Martin Canning was also sent from the field for conceding the penalty kick.

Hamilton found the going really tough, perhaps missing James McArthur having seen their talisman head to Wigan with influential skipper Alex Neill still out injured, too.

Jim Jefferies made only one change to the side which secured a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone last weekend. Ismael Bouzid returned from suspension at the expense of Jason Thomson with Darren Barr moving to right back.

Wearing their smart new away 'Argentina' kit, the visitors grabbed an early goal after just six minutes and it was a beauty.

Calum Elliot picked the ball up on the edge of the area, dropped the shoulder and curled home a sensational left-foot shot from 16 yards into the top left corner. A screamer.

The second goal was even better, but not until after Accies made a complete hash of dealing with a backpass.

Simon Mensing attempted to find Thomas Cerny, who attempted to head clear. Martin Canning helped his goalkeeper out to clear but his punt forward only found Palazuelos who found Templeton in space with a first time pass. The winger took a touch before lashing a sensational 25 yard effort into the top corner. Another screamer.

Hearts nearly netted the third three minutes before the interval when Hamilton allowed Kello's goal kick to reach their penalty area. Calum Elliot found space to fire at goal and his effort was blocked by Mensing.

Hamilton came out with renewed enthusiasm in the second period. Flavio Paixaio came agonisingly close within a couple of minutes of the restart, heading Imrie's cross off the bar.

The third should have come after 54 minutes, no doubt, though. Cerny's flapped at Craig Thomson's cross, missing it, and Palazuelos turned it back across the six yard box for Elliot. The striker teed up his forward buddy Suso, and with the goal gaping he hammered high over the bar.

Ruben Palazuelos was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Flavio Paixao, having earlier seen yellow for back-chat after only eight minutes. The replay suggested it was a contentious decision, and the Spaniard left the field with a look of disbelief.

Interestingly having seen Ruben booked for a bit of petulance early on it was intriguing to witness Martin Canning escape punishment for a more apparent verbal towards our referee Stephen Finnie after he fouled Kevin Kyle.

From the resultant free-kick Kyle came within a coat of paint of heading home his maiden goal for Hearts. He met Craig Thomson's free-kick well, his header chiselling the post with the 911 away supporters on their feet.

Canning had his moment though, for he was dismissed for denying Calum Elliot a goal-scoring opportunity 15 minutes from time. Mr Finnie gave Hearts the spot-kick.

After a bit of a rumble between Craig Thomson and Kevin Kyle who both wanted the big moment, the former Killie striker stepped up and smacked the ball high into the top left corner to cue delirious celebrations in the away end. Game over.

And the fourth, ten minutes from time, capped a wonderful day. Calum Elliot disposed Kyle Wilkie in the middle of the park before running half the length of the park and into the penalty area where he planted a smart shot across Cerny.

Elliot nearly netted a hat-trick on 90 minutes, turning brilliantly and firing at the roof of the net, only to be denied by Cerny.

Hamilton: Cerny; Ross (McAlister, 46), Canning, Mensing, McQueen (McDonald, 64); Imrie, F Paixao, Wilkie, Skelton; Thomas, M Paixao. Booked: Thomas Subs not used: Murdoch, Graham, Lyle, Kirkpatrick, Routledge.

Hearts: Kello; Barr, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Wallace; C Thomson, Black (McGowan, 77), Palazuelos, Templeton (Mrowiec, 64); Suso (Kyle, 68), Elliot. Booked: Suso, Palazuelos. Sent off: Palazuelos. Subs not used: Balogh, Novikovas, J Thomson, Robinson.

Referee: Stephen Finnie

Top man: Calum Elliot

Hearts World