Partick Thistle 0-4 Hearts

Hearts moved into second place in the Premiership

Hearts moved up to second place in the Premiership with a clinical and impressive victory over Partick Thistle.

Juanma Delgado's goal from close range towards the end of a dull game gave Hearts the lead.

Osman Sow turned his marker and shot beyond goalkeeper Ryan Scully, before Juanma struck a penalty after a clumsy challenge from Liam Lindsay.

Scully was sent off for bringing down Sow, who made it four from the spot.

The visitors were strong and purposeful as they overwhelmed a Partick side that played neat football but was indecisive in attack.

Hearts are a team of power, pace and a streetwise edge. Even as Partick played some composed, productive football in midfield, Hearts held their nerve and their defensive line was never meaningfully breached.

There is an intent to Hearts, when they are on their game, that is hard to quell. Juanma and Sow can appear casual at times, and the former can seem to disengage from the game for long spells, but they are lively and dangerous in the final third.

That quality, of menace and aplomb, was absent for the hosts. David Amoo was capable of surging runs down the right, and Matthias Pogba was a burly presence in attack, but the distribution in the final third was wayward and awkward.

Hearts' defence, in particular Callum Paterson and Jordan McGhee, simply stood strong and coped.

Juanma (centre) opened the scoring for Hearts and added a penalty in the second half

Hearts did not need to build periods of possession to make the breakthrough; they attacked in waves. Paterson pulled an early free-kick wide and Danny Swanson curled another round the upright.

The liveliness was eventually productive, with Sow gathering the ball when Scully pushed a free-kick away and his cross was turned in from close range by Juanma.

All that Partick could regret - despite passages of measured passing, was Stuart Bannigan slicing wide and Amoo seeing a shot bounce off McGhee's heel.

Even without a dynamic edge, Juanma and Sow could create trouble. When the former slipped the ball up to the latter on the edge of the area, Sow spun and did a dragback in one move.

He lost the ball, but it bounced off Lindsay and back into his path, with Sow being calm enough to clip a shot past Scully.

The Thistle support was frustrated, and even the award of a penalty against their side was greeted with subdued resignation. The lively and impressive Arnaud burst into the penalty area and was pulled back by Lindsay, with Juanma flawlessly converting from the spot.

As a contest, the game had run its course, but Hearts were still prepared to extend themselves. Their reward came when Sow strode into the penalty area and was felled by Scully, which drew a red card from the referee Steven McLean.

Sow scored from the spot past Ryan Stevenson, who had to take the goalkeepers' jersey because the home side had used all of their substitutes.