SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD debutant Anthony McDonald set up both goals as Hearts beat Dundee 2-0 at Tynecastle.
The midfielder threaded a ball through for Isma Goncalves to net on the half-hour mark and Christophe Berra made sure of Hearts’ second home victory in four days when he scored after McDonald’s 77th-minute corner.
Dundee had enjoyed long spells of possession in between but John McLaughlin saved several free-kicks from Scott Allan, and Roarie Deacon missed two decent chances.
McDonald was one of two 16-year-olds in Hearts’ midfield along with first-half substitute Harry Cochrane while 19-year-old Lewis Moore also lined up beside them for most of the match.
The teenager was one of four players brought into the team that beat Motherwell with match-winner Kyle Lafferty dropping to the bench and Jamie Walker missing out through a hamstring injury. Arnaud Djoum overcame a knock to start but only lasted 32 minutes before succumbing to another one following a hefty 50-50 challenge with Mark O’Hara.
Hearts had the better of the play before taking the lead. They had a penalty claim rejected by Craig Thomson after Prince Buaben’s strike hit the arm of Josh Meekings. Cole Stockton then rolled a defender to make the most of Djoum’s forward pass, but Elliott Parish saved his angled strike with his feet.
McDonald had shown some smart touches before scooping a pass between two defenders for Goncalves, who slotted into the far corner.
The visitors stepped things up but Deacon fluffed a decent chance to level.
Moore came closer in first-half stoppage time after both he and Goncalves skipped past Dundee players, but the midfielder’s shot was saved.
Deacon had another chance just after the break when he turned inside Rafal Grzelak but his left-footed effort trickled inches wide.
Stockton soon had the ball in the net but was ruled offside after converting Connor Randall’s low cross.
Hearts were being forced deeper and Craig Levein brought on midfielder Ross Callachan for Goncalves in a bid to reclaim some control. The switch nearly paid added dividends when the substitute raced on to Stockton’s through ball, but he could not beat Parish.
Dundee lost Deacon to injury after he was taken out by a challenge which earned Grzelak a yellow card and Hearts doubled their lead when Berra hooked home after McDonald’s corner made it to the back post.
Hearts finished the match on top and moved above Motherwell into fifth place.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here