New signing fills big boots as Hearts are left struggling to find their feet

Darren Johnstone

You suspect that Luke Leahy enjoyed his home debut for Falkirk.

The former Rugby Town striker signed this summer and did his best to ingratiate himself to a support eagerly awaiting a player capable of offsetting the departure of Farid El Alagui. Or more accurately his goals.

Leahy gave them hope – and his side a narrow win over Hearts – with a predatory finish last night. Lyle Taylor, another new signing plucked from obscurity in the lower leagues of English football, beat the offside trap before squaring a pass to Leahy to turn in just seven minutes after the break. He later tried something a little more acrobatic, which was much less successful.

The match had passed an afternoon pitch inspection and the surface seemed in remarkably good condition despite a day of incessant rain. It was Hearts who flooded forward in the early stages, a side which included brothers Ryan and Dylan McGowan looking the more dangerous. Ryan crossed for David Templeton, but the winger drove the Australian's low delivery over the crossbar.

Hearts were causing problems every time they ventured forward. Dylan McGowan fed John Sutton in space in the box but a partial block from goalkeeper Michael McGovern allowed Chris Smith to hack the ball off the line.

Hearts maintained the pressure after falling behind but were unable to manufacture an equaliser. Templeton went close again, while substitute Scott Robinson forced McGovern into a save. It was Leahy that was left smiling, though.

Taken from the Herald