Saturday 27 December 2014 17:58, UK
Hearts moved 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship table thanks to a comfortable 2-0 victory over lowly Cowdenbeath at Central Park.
The scoreline fails to tell the true extent of the Edinburgh club’s domination with James Keatings and Callum Paterson scoring the goals for the visitors who have now won 15 of their 17 league games this season.
Cowdenbeath’s Robbie Thomson was by far the busier of the two keepers during the first half, saving well from Paterson and Jamie Walker before the Jambos finally got the goal they deserved in the 25th minute when Keatings latched on to Adam Eckersley’s cross to score the opener from 15 yards.
A couple of minutes later Keatings almost scored again, this time his free-kick striking a post.
Lewis Milne fired a rare Cowdenbeath effort off target shortly before Paterson watched another attempt fly wide of the right post two minutes before the break.
Hearts’ keeper Neil Alexander was called into action early in the second half, first saving Milne’s shot from outside the box before diving to deny Sean Higgins a few minutes later.
However, it was Hearts who extended their lead just after the hour mark with a cracking volley from Paterson who blasted his shot high into the roof of the net.
Cowdenbeath enjoyed more possession during the remainder of the contest with Craig Johnston and Craig Sutherland both testing Alexander, while Prince Buaben went close for Hearts from outside the box.
But Robbie Neilson’s men were never under too much threat as they eased over the finishing line with plenty to spare.
Next up for the Championship pacesetters is Livingston who take on high-flying Hearts this Saturday in West Lothian.
