Match Report: Liverpool 1-0 Hearts

Liverpool 1-0 Heart of Midlothian
(Petersen 64')
From Hearts Media at The Oval.

Hearts' pre-season tour to Belfast ended on a disappointing note with a 1-0 defeat to a Liverpool XI at The Oval.

Kris Petersen netted the only goal of the game in the second half but the shine was taken off another good work out for Gary Locke's men with a serious-looking leg injury to Callum Tapping.

The youngster was stretchered off 12 minutes from time after slumping to the turf in agony and with the new season just a week away, a serious injury is the last thing the manager needs going into the ampaign.

The gaffer made just the one change from the team which defeated Crusaders on Thursday evening, Jamie Walker replacing Jason Holt. Dylan McGowan started at right-back after his central defensive shift in the opening game, Jamie Hamill moving into midfield.

The first chance of the game fell to the Jambos with six minutes on the clock, Ryan Stevenson setting up Callum Paterson but his first time shot was comfortably saved by Ryan Fulton.
Locke's men were dominating the opening exchanges and Danny Wilson came close to scoring against his former club when he headed over from a Kevin McHattie corner in the 11th minute.

In the 17th minute, Liverpool should have broken the deadlock. Dylan McGowan's sliced clearance came back off the crossbar and fell nicely for Kris Petersen but his header from just four yards out was beaten away by Jamie Macdonald.

Stephen Sama flashed a header just wide from a corner before neat play from Hamill and Tapping gave Stevenson a shooting chance, his effort dragged wide of the left-hand post.

Ten minutes from the break good work from Stevenson saw the attacker turn and shoot, his effort deflected wide of target.

Although Hearts had enjoyed the better of the opening half, they nearly fell behind in the 39th minute, when Rafa powered a header over from a Smith corner.

A rash tackle from Tapping on the tricky Teixeira saw the midfielder booked in the final action of the opening half.

Half-time: Liverpool XI 0, Hearts 0.

(Pictures courtsey of Russell Pritchard and Kelvin Boyes at Press Eye)

Hearts were forced to make a change in the 51st minute, Gary Naysmith coming on for Kevin McHattie, who appeared to hurt is foot. With the start of the SPFL just a week away, the gaffer was clearly taking no chances with the full-back.

Moments later Hamill let fly from fully 30 yards, the ball flying narrowly wide of Fulton's right-hand post.

Macdonald then had to get down smartly at his near post to keep out Petersen's angled drive.The Anfield outfit appeared to have taken the lead seconds later when Smith's downward header from Nacho's corner seemed to cross the line before the Hearts No. 1 got to it but thankfully the officials decided otherwise.

'Pool didn't have long to wait, though, for the opener. With 64 minutes gone, Nacho played in Petersen and the No. 7 controlled the ball well with his back to goal before turning his marker beautifully and cracking a shot past Macdonald.

As the Belfast sun continued to beat down on The Oval, tempers flared with Stevenson and Rossiter having to be pulled apart after the Hearts man took exception to the defender's challenge. Stevo was then substituted with David Smith coming on.

In the 78th minute, there was reaI concern for Hearts when Callum Tapping went down in agony after twisting his knee in an innocuous challenge with Jordan Lussey. The midfielder was stretchered off after lengthy treatment and boss Gary Locke will be hoping it's not as bad as it looked.

Final: Liverpool XI 1, Hearts 0.

Liverpool: Fulton (Mensin, 75'), Sama, Roddan (Maguire, 62'), Rafa, Sokolick (Jones, 62'), Rossiter (Hossey, 71'), Petersen, Teixeira (Brannigan, 82'), Morgan (Nancho, 46'), Smith, Donn.

Hearts: Macdonald; McGowan, McKay, Wilson, McHattie (Naysmith, 51'); Tapping (A. King, 80') Hamill (Holt, 61'), Robinson, Walker (B. King, 75'); Paterson, Stevenson (Smith, 67'). Subs not used: Ridgers, McGhee, Nicholson, Oliver.

Referee: A. Black

Top man: Danny Wilson.

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