Hearts 3 - 0 Partick Thistle: Jambos sweep Thistle aside with first half goals

Hearts' Steven Naismith scores to make it 2-0. Picture: SNS/Rob Casey

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Hearts responded to last week's Edinburgh derby defeat in the perfect manner, all the goals coming in the first half of a convincing 3-0 win over Partick Thistle at Tynecastle.

Strikes from Kyle Lafferty, Steven Naismith and a first Hearts goal for John Souttar had the points secured by half-time, ensuring a first win since the Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over St. Johnstone last month.

An early Christophe Berra header from a Michael Smith long throw was hurriedly thumped away from goal before Lafferty tried his luck from an angled free-kick, that was admittedly tame enough for Tomas Cerny to gather with ease.

Danny Amankwaa’s in-swinging cross from the left was met by Don Cowie, but the midfielder was unable to keep his header down and it looped on to the top of Cerny’s net.

A Lafferty flick on from Smith’s deep free-kick was directed towards Steven Naismith, but like Cowie couldn’t quite direct his header on target.

The opener came after 17 minutes courtesy of a fine move. Joaquim Adao fired a pass in to Naismith, who’s first-time back heel sent Lafferty racing through. The Northern Irishman stayed composed to slot through Cerny’s legs for his 17th goal of the season.

It was 2-0 just four minutes later. Adao won possession on the right deep in Partick’s half and showed good awareness to wait and roll the ball in to the arriving Naismith’s path, who dispatched past Cerny from close range.