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They were passive, disjointed and square in defence, making it difficult for their attacking players to really affect the game. The challenge for Naismith's side is whether they can replicate this level of performance against top-six sides next month, with Aberdeen playing their game in hand against Rangers on Sunday.Ĭounty could take heart from their performances in recent losses to Aberdeen and Celtic but their visit to Tynecastle offered no solace at all. Ginnelly was denied by Laidlaw Devlin's rebound was touched on to the bar Kye Rowles headed narrowly wide at a corner Shankland forced another Laidlaw save and substitute Stephen Humphrys went close twice.

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This was the Hearts of earlier in the season with Ginnelly and Shankland in full flow and Haring and Devlin providing solidity in midfield.Īnd they were not satisfied with six. Hearts played with a freedom that belied their recent downturn in form.

Player of the match - Lawrence Shankland Hearts' recent malaise coincided with the striker's own dip in form but he was back to his best Hearts back on song as County struggles continue - analysis Yutaro Oda then looked in line for his first Hearts goal but was blocked, the ball falling for Shankland to dink into the net for his treble and a 25th goal of the season.Įdwards won County's spot-kick when he teased Cochrane on the right and the substitute converted the penalty well. Hearts were hungry for more goals after the break with Ginnelly getting away from Alex Iacovitti too easily and burying from 20 yards. Dylan Smith's trailing leg tripped Shankland and, though play continued, a VAR review resulted in a penalty. Laidlaw kept out Devlin's low shot, Peter Haring fired over, Nathaniel Atkinson should have finished from Shankland's delightful backheel, and McKay and Shankland had further efforts blocked.īut the domination did yield a fourth goal before half-time. Shankland was inches away from a spectacular second moments later, his lob from the right edge of the box beating the goalkeeper but smacking the crossbar. The forward was flagged offside but the goal was awarded after a VAR check.Īnd it got worse for the visitors when Cochrane clipped from the left for Shankland to head back across Laidlaw into the net. Ginnelly then ran on to Cammy Devlin's intelligent through ball down the same channel, progressed into the box and turned back to finish well into the left corner. Shankland and Ginnelly combined to set up Cochrane, who struck diagonally from the inside right channel to beat Ross Laidlaw. Hearts, who had lost six in a row in all competitions, seized control shortly after Barrie McKay had volleyed over the County bar. The day got worse for bottom side Ross County, who replied through Owura Edwards' late penalty, with nearest rivals Kilmarnock and Dundee United both winning to move four points clear. Ginnelly added another and Shankland chipped in the hosts' sixth as they moved to within two points of Aberdeen.Īnd Naismith says his players will 'go into the split confident', adding: 'There's loads to play for.'

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