Robbie Neilson hailed Hearts for flying high on their return from Europe with “three goals made in Ayr”.
The Jambos proved they’ve got the mettle to dig out results at home and abroad as they rattled the Steelmen to move into third with ex-Ayr United duo Lawrence Shankland and Alan Forrest bagging the goals.. Three days on from being ruthless in Riga Neilson’s side were lethal in Lanarkshire as they gave wasteful Well a lesson in finishing.
Hearts had lost their last four league visits to Fir Park but goals from Shankland, his sixth of the season, and an Alan Forrest double after the break sealed victory. Brassed off Well fans took aim at TV bosses at half time with a banner that read ‘6.15 kick off - TV before fans - F*** Premier Sports’ in reference to next month’s quarter final. But it was their team’s finishing which was a turn off with Paul McGinn the main culprit in a game where Steven Hammell’s side peppered Craig Gordon’s goal with 26 shots, hitting the woodwork three times but without bulging the net once.
In contrast Hearts beat Liam Kelly three times from 10 efforts. And Neilson said: “I was pleased. We spoke after the Riga game about getting yourself ready go again on Sunday – and we did that.
“Looking at the bigger picture, we’re competing in European football, sitting second in our group – and we’re still third in the Scottish Premiership. So we’re still where we want to be, where we want to try to push from, while still competing Europe. That’s really, really important heading into the international break.
“Three goals made at Ayr United! It was good to see the rapport between Shanks and Alan, they’ve come in and really taken the group, the players really like them and they do great for us. I like their pathway of coming up from the Championship and doing well in the Premiership, then coming to us. It shows that’s a great pathway for players in Scotland.
“In hindsight we made a number of changes for the Livingston game. Some of them were enforced with injuries. Today we had a bit more continuity in the group and it makes a difference not having another game coming up. We’ve got a two-week break to get players through it. That helped.”
Alex Cochrane limped off before half time while Craig Gordon hurt his knee making a save near the end. Neilson added: “All the injuries were contact injuries. None of them were muscular.
“Craig landed on his knee, it was fine. Cochrane took a knock on the hip. Craig will be fine for international duty. I think it would take a lot for Craig to miss that.”
Orestis Kiomourtzoglou was handed a debut following his move from Heracles and the German U21 international kept things turning over in midfield with some perfectly timed interceptions Neilson added: “He did well. I was a bit concerned about throwing him in away from home, the game is played at 200 miles an hour.
“Sometimes they’re coming in from a league where it’s a bit slower, especially in Holland. But I thought he handled it well with a bit of support from Halliday and Devlin.”
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