Hearts break as Raith Rovers suffer four-goal hammering

The visitors, smarting from Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Tynecastle, came flying out of the blocks and were in command for the entire 90 minutes, the mystery being how they didn’t score more than the four goals they managed on the night.

This was as one-sided a match as you’re likely to see.

John McGlynn made two changes from Saturday – top scorer Manny Duku was restored to the starting line-up, but the real surprise was a first start of the season for Lewis Vaughan.

From the first blow of referee Euan Anderson’s whistle Hearts were on the front foot and didn’t let up until full-time. The only positive for John McGlynn’s side was that the scoreline wasn’t more.

Goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was voted the supporters’ man of the match after carrying on his good form from Saturday with a string of excellent saves to keep Hearts at bay as they launched wave after wave of attacks.

Rovers for their part didn’t muster a single shot on the visitors’ goal.

It took until the 36th minute for Hearts to take the lead after squandering some earlier chances, but when they did it came in some style.

Striker Liam Boyce picked up the ball in the Rovers half and after shrugging off a couple of challenges played a one-two with Euan Henderson, then smashed the ball past MacDonald.

Three minutes later and it was Henderson who added the second, bundling in a corner from Andy Irving which had evaded the entire Rovers’ defence.

The home side now had a mountain to climb and their task was made all the more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men.

A challenge between Regan Hendry and Andy Halliday in midfield ended with the Rovers man stamping on his opponent and leaving referee Euan Anderson with no other option than to show the red card.

There was no further scoring in the first half and when the teams started the second period it was clear that Rovers’ aim was now merely damage limitation.

Jamie Walker, Gary Mackay-Steven and Boyce all passed up chances to score before the latter was replaced by new Hearts signing Armand Gnanduillet.

It was to be a debut to remember for the Frenchman who grabbed a double by the final whistle.

Rovers had made their intent clear by now, replacing striker Duku with defender Iain Davidson, but it didn’t stop Robbie Neilson’s men from adding to the scoreline.

Gnanduillet’s first came on 84 minutes, knocking a Walker shot which had been parried by MacDonald into an empty net.

He then put the seal on what had been a chastening experience for Rovers by rising unchallenged to head home from a 91st minute corner.