After a goalless first half which saw us lose Martin Scott, after he was sent off, and David Cox with a cut to his forehead, Hearts eventually ran out comfortable winners at Tynecastle Park.

There was one change to the starting line up which had beaten Cove at the weekend with Kyle Miller coming in for Jordyn Sheerin.

The first chance of the night came in three minutes when a Berra shot was deflected for a corner.

Defending well we restricted Hearts to long range shots from outside the box and with 17 minutes gone Lafferty sent an effort well wide.

Three minutes later the hosts had a claim for a penalty waived aside after a Garuccio cross came off Marsh, and minutes later another claim was turned down by referee Cook as Mullen tussled with Naismith.

The turning point of the game for us came with 30 minutes gone when Scott was sent off after a clash with Berra at the halfway line.

Minutes later we dealt a further blow when Cox suffered a cut to his head after getting tangled with a Hearts player at the touchline.

Seven minutes from the break McGurn saved at his near post from Smith who had been set up by Lafferty and minutes later he denied Haring saving his header.

As the first half drew to a close we almost snatched an unlikely lead when Sheerin, who had replaced Cox, fed Miller through on goal but his first time shot was saved by Zlamal.

Three minutes into the second half Hearts got the break through they were looking for when Steven McLEAN got on the end of a Garuccio cross although he appeared to handle the ball.

Hearts went further ahead in 64 minutes when a throw from Smith fell to Uche IKPEAZU who fired home a low shot on the turn at the edge of the box into the far corner of the net.

Nine minutes later it was three when Peter HARING headed home from a McDonald corner and on the 75 minute mark Steven NAISMITH fired home from the penalty spot after McDonald had been brought down by Marsh.

The scoring was then completed with nine minutes to go when an Anthony McDONALD shot was deflected by Marsh into the far corner.

TEAM: McGurn, Mullen, Talbot, Pyper, Marsh, Miller (Renton 57), Buchanan, Malcolm, Cox (Sheerin 35) (Swann 81), Scott & Smith. Subs not used – Goodfellow, Gilfillan, Scullion & Muirhead.

Booked: Malcolm (15), Marsh (69), Pyper (75), Mullen (90+4).
Sent off: Scott (32).

HEARTS: Zlamal, Soutar, Haring, Berra, Lafferty (Ikpeazu 54), Naismith, Garuccio, McLean, Morrison & Irving (McDonald 35) (Mulraney (78). Subs not used – Doyle, Lee, Hughes & Keena.

Goals: McLean (48), Ikpeazu (64), Haring (73), Naismith (75) & Smith (81).
Booked: Ikpeazu (69).