Hearts 3-0 Alloa Athletic: Three first-half goals eases Robbie Neilson's side to win

Liam Boyce hit the crossbar with his second attempt from the spot

Hearts moved to within a point of the Scottish Championship summit after a convincing victory over bottom club Alloa Athletic at Tynecastle.

First-half goals by Michael Smith, Andy Halliday and Peter Haring had Hearts in control against the part-timers.

And although Liam Boyce twice missed a penalty - after being permitted a retake for encroachment by goalkeeper Neil Parry - Hearts cruised to a win.

They still trail Dunfermline Athletic with both having played five games.

Alloa were better after their first-half woes, but still rarely threatened Craig Gordon in the home goal.

They will, however, have the chance for revenge on Saturday when they meet at the Indodrill in the last-16 of the League Cup.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "We tried to go and press them. Alloa are a very good footballing team and we managed to nick it a few times and could maybe have scored a few more. I think we passed the ball better on Friday (2-1 loss at Dunfermline) but we didn't press the game as well as we did tonight. It's about getting both sides right.

"Saturday will be a completely different game, on a different surface. It's always tough there."

Alloa Athletic manager Peter Grant: "I sound like a broken record; the goals we have conceded this season have been really poor. You have to make the opposition work for their goals and we didn't. I have to give the boys credit for the second half because it's easy to go under when you come to a place like this."