Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Alloa Athletic 0.
HeartsHeart of Midlothian3AlloaAlloa Athletic0
Hearts moved to within a point of the Scottish Championship summit after a convincing victory over bottom club Alloa Athletic at Tynecastle.
First-half goals by Michael Smith, Andy Halliday and Peter Haring had Hearts in control against the part-timers.
And although Liam Boyce twice missed a penalty - after being permitted a retake for encroachment by goalkeeper Neil Parry - Hearts cruised to a win.
They still trail Dunfermline Athletic with both having played five games.
Alloa were better after their first-half woes, but still rarely threatened Craig Gordon in the home goal.
They will, however, have the chance for revenge on Saturday when they meet at the Indodrill in the last-16 of the League Cup.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "We tried to go and press them. Alloa are a very good footballing team and we managed to nick it a few times and could maybe have scored a few more. I think we passed the ball better on Friday (2-1 loss at Dunfermline) but we didn't press the game as well as we did tonight. It's about getting both sides right.
"Saturday will be a completely different game, on a different surface. It's always tough there."
Alloa Athletic manager Peter Grant: "I sound like a broken record; the goals we have conceded this season have been really poor. You have to make the opposition work for their goals and we didn't. I have to give the boys credit for the second half because it's easy to go under when you come to a place like this."
Line-ups
Hearts
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gordon
- 2SmithSubstituted forPopescuat 64'minutes
- 26Halkett
- 6Berra
- 21Kingsley
- 5Haring
- 16HallidaySubstituted forLeeat 72'minutesBooked at 81mins
- 7Walker
- 14Naismith
- 11RobertsSubstituted forWhiteat 59'minutes
- 10Boyce
Substitutes
- 3White
- 8Lee
- 13Stewart
- 15Wighton
- 28Popescu
- 31Henderson
- 36McGill
Alloa
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Parry
- 8RobertsonBooked at 71minsSubstituted forat 89'minutes
- 2TaggartBooked at 71mins
- 5GrahamBooked at 34mins
- 3Dick
- 7CawleyBooked at 69minsSubstituted forScougallat 72'minutes
- 22GrantBooked at 89mins
- 23MurraySubstituted forConnellyat 81'minutes
- 6Hetherington
- 10Trouten
- 19ThomsonSubstituted forBuchananat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Buchanan
- 12Scougall
- 14Brown
- 15Jamieson
- 17Connelly
- 24Williamson
- 31Willison
- Referee:
- Grant Irvine
Match Stats
Home TeamHeartsAway TeamAlloa
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away24
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Alloa Athletic 0.
Post update
Jon Robertson went off injured after Alloa Athletic had used all subs.
Booking
Ray Grant (Alloa Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
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Olly Lee (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ray Grant (Alloa Athletic).
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Corner, Alloa Athletic. Conceded by Olly Lee.
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Steven Naismith (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Alan Trouten (Alloa Athletic).
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Attempt missed. Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Alloa Athletic. Lee Connelly replaces Innes Murray.
Booking
Olly Lee (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Olly Lee (Heart of Midlothian).
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Jon Robertson (Alloa Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Innes Murray.
Post update
Aidan White (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jon Robertson (Alloa Athletic).
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Steven Naismith (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ray Grant (Alloa Athletic).
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
