Cove Rangers 1-2 Heart of Midlothian

Debutant Olly Lee's low shot broke the deadlock for Hearts

Top-flight Hearts battled past Highland League champions Cove Rangers to win their first competitive match of the season in League Cup Group C.

Two of Craig Levein's 13 summer signings, Olly Lee and Steven MacLean, scored debut goals for the visitors.

Jake Mulraney too came close to opening his Hearts account, while Lee struck the post in search of a third goal.

Paul McManus pulled one back for Cove with 15 minutes remaining, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.

The Toonsers, for whom it was a first competitive game at their new Balmoor Stadium, have now lost both of their League Cup matches and sit bottom of the section.

Hearts climb to second place, behind Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who have taken maximum points from their two fixtures.

Experienced striker Steven MacLean scored Hearts' second goal

Seven of Levein's new additions started and it was particularly surprising to see MacLean, who has arrived from St Johnstone, feature.

Saints boss Tommy Wright never played the striker on synthetic surfaces because of his history of knee injuries, but the 35-year-old was selected in the away forward line on the new artificial pitch.

MacLean certainly seemed unconcerned by the surface. He had a goal disallowed for offside in the opening half before scoring after the break, but it was Lee who was first to break his Hearts duck.

The midfielder, whom Levein signed from Luton Town, swapped passes with Kyle Lafferty at the edge of the box before drilling the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net after just 11 minutes.

Lee struck the post as he sought to add to his first-half goal

It looked like that might spark a comfortable win for the Premiership side, who certainly played with pace and intensity, especially in the wide areas, where Mulraney and Callum Morrison caused persistent problems.

Cove were limited to the occasional counterattack, with Mitch Megginson twice blocked by John Souttar when in good positions.

The Hearts defender nearly scored at the other end on the stroke of half-time, his header hooked off the line by Darryn Kelly, rescuing the otherwise impressive Stuart McKenzie after the goalkeeper made a rare error.

Ryan Strachan made another goal-line clearance for the hosts seconds into the new half, denying Oliver Bozanic.

There was no stopping MacLean's effort, though, as he pounced to prod in Peter Haring's flick-on from inside the six-yard box after 57 minutes.

Paul McManus scored to set up a nervy final 15 minutes for Craig Levein's Hearts

Lee could have doubled his tally when he rounded McKenzie, but he struck the upright with his shot.

The ending was more fraught than it should have been for Hearts after McManus tapped home from close-range.

Match reaction

Hearts captain Christophe Berra: "It was overall a comfortable game, they got a goal that was sloppy on our behalf, basic stuff.

"We had the majority of possession, some great chances, great movement around the box and combinations, and on another day there'd have been more goals.

"Seven new players, Cove have given Inverness a tough game, they're on the up and have some good players, but if we'd won 4-1 or 5-1, I don't think anyone could have said anything against it."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Cove Rangers

• 1McKenzie
• 2MilneSubstituted forRedfordat 76'minutes
• 6Kelly
• 4Strachan
• 3MilneBooked at 73mins
• 7Park
• 5Yule
• 8Scully
• 11MassonSubstituted forSmithat 80'minutes
• 10McManus
• 9Megginson

Substitutes

• 12Smith
• 14Watson
• 15Redford
• 16Gray
• 17Emmett
• 21McCafferty

Hearts

• 1Zlamal
• 4Souttar
• 5HaringBooked at 84mins
• 6Berra
• 38Morrison
• 8LeeSubstituted forIrvingat 65'minutes
• 31Burns
• 7Bozanic
• 23MulraneySubstituted forIkpeazuat 80'minutes
• 9Lafferty
• 18MacLeanSubstituted forSmithat 65'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Smith
• 16Hughes
• 19Ikpeazu
• 22Edwards
• 30Silva
• 35Keena
• 40Irving

Referee:

Nick Walsh

Attendance:

1,728

Match Stats

Home TeamCove RangersAway TeamHearts

Possession

Home42%

Away58%

Shots

Home6

Away23

Shots on Target

Home2

Away9

Corners

Home3

Away9

Fouls

Home13

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Cove Rangers 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, Cove Rangers 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.

Posted at 89'

Oliver Bozanic (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Mitch Megginson (Cove Rangers).

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Connor Scully (Cove Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 85'

Bobby Burns (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Daniel Park (Cove Rangers).

Booking

Posted at 84'

Peter Haring (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Peter Haring (Heart of Midlothian).

Posted at 84'

Connor Scully (Cove Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 81'

Callumn Morrison (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Blair Yule (Cove Rangers).

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Uche Ikpeazu replaces Jake Mulraney.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Cove Rangers. Jonny Smith replaces Jamie Masson.

Posted at 79'

Attempt saved. Bobby Burns (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 79'

Hand ball by Paul McManus (Cove Rangers).

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Andrew Irving (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Substitution

Posted at 76'

Substitution, Cove Rangers. Alan Redford replaces Cameron Milne.

Goal!

Posted at 75'

Goal! Cove Rangers 1, Heart of Midlothian 2. Paul McManus (Cove Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Park.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Kyle Lafferty (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.

Booking

Posted at 73'

Harry Milne (Cove Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 73'

Callumn Morrison (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Harry Milne (Cove Rangers).

Posted at 71'

Foul by Andrew Irving (Heart of Midlothian).

Posted at 71'

Cameron Milne (Cove Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian).

Posted at 70'

Paul McManus (Cove Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Bobby Burns (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Daniel Park (Cove Rangers).

Substitution

Posted at 65'

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Andrew Irving replaces Olly Lee.

Substitution

Posted at 65'

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Michael Smith replaces Steven MacLean.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Peter Haring (Heart of Midlothian).

Posted at 63'

Mitch Megginson (Cove Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 61'

Olly Lee (Heart of Midlothian) hits the right post with a right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.

Posted at 58'

Oliver Bozanic (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 58'

Foul by Daniel Park (Cove Rangers).

Goal!

Posted at 57'

Goal! Cove Rangers 0, Heart of Midlothian 2. Steven MacLean (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Peter Haring following a corner.

Posted at 57'

Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Cameron Milne.

Posted at 55'

Attempt blocked. Mitch Megginson (Cove Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 53'

Foul by Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian).

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