Heart of Midlothian 0-2 Partick Thistle

(Taylor 13' Taylor-Sinclair 39')
From Hearts Media at Tynecastle.

Hearts were beaten 2-0 by visiting Partick Thistle on Sunday afternoon.

The Jags stunned the home crowd with goals in the first half from Lyle Taylor and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, as Hearts battled hard in the second half but no avail.

The Jambos made only one change from the side that was narrowly beaten three days previously at Easter Road, as David Smith replaced the suspended Jamie Hamill.

Despite some early Partick pressure it was Hearts who had the first chance of the match in the seventh minute. A Kevin McHattie corner was flicked goalwards by Callum Paterson, and although Ryan Stevenson pounced on the follow-up after Scott Fox saved, he couldn't steer it past the Jags' goalkeeper.

The visitors immediately went up the park and threatened with a chance of their own. Kallum Higginbotham crossed to the opposite side of the box for Steven Lawless to half volley, but his shot was weak and nestled into Jamie MacDonald's arms.

Partick grabbed their next opportunity, however, to break the deadlock. A 60 yard punt into the Hearts box was chased down by Dylan McGowan, but he was outmuscled by Taylor and the on-loan striker stabbed the ball beyond MacDonald from six yards.

Both teams cancelled out each other's play for long spells thereafter, though Hearts had a half chance on 36 minutes when Walker was stopped in his tracks in the box which allowed Ryan Stevenson space for a snapshot, but his effort curled wide.

Poor defending was to cost Hearts again as Thistle doubled their lead on 39 minutes. A Higginbotham corner was met unchallenged by Taylor-Sinclair, and his downward header flew into the bottom corner of the net.

Hearts went searching for a goal to get back into the game and just after the restart Stevenson headed over from six yards after a wonderful delivery from David Smith on the left.

Tynecastle almost erupted just before hour mark when Callum Tapping burst into the Partick Thistle half and tried his luck from 30 yards. The midfielder's deflected shot had Fox beaten, but unfortunately not the crossbar as the woodwork came to the visitors' rescue.

The Jags were reduced to ten men with nine minutes remaining after Stuart Bannigan received a second yellow following a late challenge on McHattie.

Time ran out before Hearts could make the numbers advantage count and Partick Thistle returned along the M8 with all three points.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGhee, McKay, McGowan, McHattie; Smith (B. King, 64'), Tapping, Robinson, Walker (Nicholson, 73'); Stevenson, Paterson (Carrick, 64'). Subs: Hamilton, A.King.

Partick Thistle: Fox, O'Donnell, Taylor-Sinclair, Muirhead, Balatoni, Craigen, Bannian, Lawless (Baird, 83'), Piccolo, Taylor (Doolan, 75'), Higginbotham (Elliott, 64'). Subs: Gallacher, Forbes, McMillan, Wilson.

Referee: Iain Brines

Top man: Jordan McGhee

Hearts World