Hearts ease past Elgin
From Hearts News at Tynecastle Stadium

Hearts recorded a 4-0 win for the second time in four days with this comprehensive victory over Elgin at Tynecastle.

Goals from Eggert Jonsson, Kevin Kyle, Arvydas Novikovas and Scott Robinson helped Hearts ease into the 3rd round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Hearts started with confidence and opened the scoring on 11th minutes. Elgin failed to deal with a high ball in the area and allowing Eggert Jonsson to break through a dotted last-line of defence. Via the aid of a deflection, the Icelander hooked the ball over a diving Steven Dunn and into the Elgin goal.

If Dunn was slightly at fault for the first, he went some way to making amends on 22 minutes. Craig Thomson's deep ball from the right found the head of Kevin Kyle at the back post. The striker's quest for a first Hearts' goal from open play was thwarted by the quick reaction of the goalkeeper.

Dunn then followed up those heroics with a better stop minutes later. David Templeton's low first-time ball from the by-line found Ian Black in acres of space standing six yards out. Black's side-footed effort was somehow knocked wide by the outstretched toe of Dunn.

Dunn impressed further on 28 minutes when the keeper made yet another terrific stop to deny the home side. Yet again another terrific Craig Thomson cross found the head of a Hearts player inside the penalty area. It was the turn of Ryan Stevenson to be denied by the Elgin stopper before Ruben Palazuelos knocked the rebound back off the post.

Elgin's resistance could only hold for so long. On 33 minutes Craig Thomson put in another inch perfect cross for a teammate to attack. This time Kevin Kyle got the better of the keeper, powering a header past Dunn at his right hand side.

The game was over as a contest and, as a result, the atmosphere was a little bit flat to start the second half. However, on 58 minutes the crowd was brought back to life when Ryan Stevenson delightfully back-heeled the ball into the path of Arvydas Novikovas. The Lithuanian advanced into the penalty area before powering the ball into the net for his first ever Hearts goal.

Craig Gunn had the chance to give the Elgin supporters a goal to celebrate before the long trip home. The striker found space on the right but was eased wide by Eggert Jonsson. He managed to fire off a shot at goal which was saved by Janos Balogh and rebounded back off Jonsson. Luckily for the goalscorer the ball ricocheted over the crossbar.

Scott Robinson got himself in on the goalscoring act after coming off the bench with less than 20 minutes remaining. After being played through by Suso, the youngster kept his cool to round Dunn and roll the ball into the net, completing the night's scoring.

Hearts: Balogh; C Thomson, Bouzid, Jonsson, Wallace (Robinson 72); Templeton (Suso 72), Black (Mrowiec 78), Palazuelos, Novikovas; Stevenson, Kyle. Subs not used: Kello, J Thomson.

Elgin: Dunn; Edwards, Kaczan, Nicolson, Dempsie; Inglis, Macdonald (Frizzel 55), Wilson (Millar 70), O'Donoghue, Gunn; Crooks (Cameron 59). Subs not used: Robertson, Duff.

Referee: Steven McLean

Top man: Craig Thomson

Hearts World