World News – GB – Cowdenbeath 0 Hearts 1 RECAP: Halkett header enough despite Walker’s miss

He finished Cowdenbeath 0 – 1 Hearts at Bayview in a game where the Jambos did not shower themselves with glory

The hosts were denied a penalty as soon as Craig Barr fell into the box

Hearts dominated the ball from the start, but struggled to create anything clear as their opponents sat deep and limited space behind

The game’s best chance was rejected by Jamie Walker Olly Lee’s free kick was returned on goal by Craig Halkett, but Walker could only return it at close range

A heroic block from Barr then denied Josh Ginnelly after Walker broke free on the right and slashed The loan winger made contact and crashed towards goal, but Cowden’s captain s’ is launched on his way to divert him

Robbie Neilson’s men picked up the pace after the break, but still worked hard

Roberts himself then flew wide before Walker folded one just past the far post as Cowden latched onto

However, their resistance was eventually broken when Craig Halkett climbed the highest to dominate Elliott Frear’s corner on the right

A push on Jordan Roberts in the stoppage time by Ross Clarke gave Hearts a chance to double-secure it, but Sinclair produced a nice save to prevent Walker’s kick

« He was about to start, but we got a phone call last night and he got the call, which is great for Andy For us we missed that ability to dictate the game

“But we brought in Scott McGill for his debut which was great for the kid and I thought he had done really well It’s an opportunity for him” ”He was about to start but we got a phone call last night and he got the call which is great for Andy For us we missed that ability to dictate play

« But we brought in Scott McGill for his debut, which was great for the kid and I thought he did really well. It’s an opportunity for him »

« It wasn’t a good game We started well, we changed it and got into some good areas, but we couldn’t reach the goal

« The longer the game went, the slower it got and they just sat down and made it difficult. We weren’t as good as we should have been, but we managed to achieve this in the end

« We weren’t under pressure at all but it was one of those games. You get the ones in Betfred »

This is the last action of the game and it was hard work for Hearts this afternoon in Bayview, Cowden deserving a lot of credit

Craig Halkett’s late header won, while Jamie Walker had a time-out penalty saved as Hearts looked to put the outcome out of doubt

This is the result Robbie Neilson wanted, but not the performance and he will look much better against Raith Rovers next week

Walker goes up and down to the keeper’s right, but Sinclair goes down to make a brilliant save before also blocking Frear’s rebound.

Ross Clarke is penalized after pushing Jordan Roberts as the ball drifted and Alan Newlands points the finger

Oliver Hamilton sees yellow for a cynical and painful tackle from behind on Walker as he stepped forward

Jambos finally break through Jamie Walker is suspended in a corner and Craig Halkett climbs the highest to give Sinclair a header and break Cowdenbeath’s resistance

Hearts keep the pressure on Olly Lee plays a smart ball with Walker on the edge of the area He tries to fold one in the far corner, but it’s just off target with Sinclair beaten

An excellent switch from Lee places Elliott Frear on the left His delivery is greeted by Wighton but Barr defends himself brilliantly again His clearance goes to Roberts, but he makes a wide volley

Game Premier Mikey Herd Sees Yellow For Cleats Challenge On Olly Lee

Hearts miss an even better chance than in the first half Jordan Roberts spins and turns left and catches a good ball for Ginnelly The winger gets up and meets him but manages to lead him closely

Hearts make change at break Craig Wighton replaces Steven Naismith, Craig Halkett takes captain’s armband

Cowdenbeath 0-0 Hearts at the break and Robbie Neilson won’t be too happy with his squad

Cowden will be delighted with the way things are going, but the danger is they will tire out as the match progresses

Craig Gordon first came into action after Kris Renton showed good feet to work some room in the box and get a shot, but it’s a comfortable save at the end for the goalkeeper. Hearts

Walker breaks free to the right and pulls the ball back for Ginnelly He takes a touch and crushes it towards the goal, but Barr throws himself in the way of the shot to deny an almost certain first game for Hearts

Brandon chooses Ginnelly’s run behind and he pulls it out for Naismith, who sucks Lee Lee shoots but he takes a touch in his way, slows down and Sinclair is able to rally before he swerves

Hearts should be the lead Lee’s free-kick is greeted by Craig Halkett, who returns on goal for Walker, but he sends his effort over the bar close up Best luck in the game to date

Robbie Neilson has moved his offensive players a bit Josh Ginnelly is now playing as a center forward with Naismith out of him and Jamie Walker wide on the right Hearts looking to use Ginnelly’s pace behind

This time on the other end Jordan Roberts hits the signing and backs down for Naismith He shoots for the first time but hits a defender and Alan Newlands doesn’t have the pretensions in hand

A deep free kick from Cowdenbeath lands on unmarked Ross Pollock at the far post He throws a powerful volley towards goal and it takes a final ditch to block Mihail Popescu to prevent Craig Gordon from making a save Good spell for Cowden in the last ten minutes or so

Jamie Walker recovers possession and leads to Cowdenbeath’s defense, moves the ball to his left foot and hits it, but a challenge takes all the rhythm and harmless trundles up to Sinclair

Cowdenbeath bench screams at a penalty kick as Craig Barr crumbles with Hearts struggling to clear a deep free kick Referee Alan Newlands ignores the claims, although it seemed like a decent scream

Olly Lee swings in a deep screech as Steven Naismith passes underneath and stands as Ross Sinclair tries to claim him but misses and he rushes for a corner Hearts dominate possession in the early stages

Hearts get us on our way to New Bayview, playing in brown and kicking right to left (away from the sea, for those of you unfamiliar with East Fife) Cowden in their traditional blue, white and red

The 18-year-old midfielder went through the SFA Performance School system, attending Broughton High School in Edinburgh before signing a professional contract with the Jambos at local boys’ club Tynecastle

Despite its versatility, McGill has mainly appeared in the middle of the park for the U17s and now on the reserve side

He was one of Andy Halliday’s first subs in the recent friendly victory at Partick Thistle, but starts today alongside Olly Lee for his first competitive appearance in brown

No fans are allowed inside Bayview today, but that doesn’t mean they can’t see the action from outside

Heart of Midlothian FC, Cowdenbeath FC, Robbie Neilson, Scotland, Craig Halkett, Bayview Stadium