Brilliant Hearts win again as Falkirk are well beaten

Rampant Hearts moved two points clear of Celtic at the top of the William Hill Premiership after Alexandros Kyziridis’ wonder strike set them on the way to a 3-0 victory over Falkirk at Tynecastle.

The Greek winger – one of several new signings unearthed for the Edinburgh club by data firm Jamestown Analytics over the summer – broke the deadlock with an audacious effort midway through the first half.

Captain Lawrence Shankland then fired home his third goal in two games before defender Craig Halkett headed the third early in the second half.

As Hearts cruised towards a victory that ensured they will enter October as league leaders, their buoyant supporters chanted “bring on the Hibees” in anticipation of next Saturday evening’s Edinburgh derby at home to Hibernian.

Manager Derek McInnes sent out the same XI that started their 2-0 victory away to Rangers a fortnight previously.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn, overseeing his first Premiership match at Tynecastle since being sacked by the Jambos 12 and a half years ago, made one enforced change to the team that started Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Hibernian as on-loan Swansea defender Filip Lissah was handed his debut in place of Lewis Neilson, who was unable to face his parent club.

The Bairns threatened in the first minute when Calvin Miller’s low shot from just inside the box forced Alexander Schwolow into a save.

But Hearts soon started to seize control and Harry Milne went close in the 10th minute when he headed just wide after meeting Stephen Kingsley’s cross from the left at the back post.

Stuart Findlay then stepped out of defence and unleashed a powerful low strike that was tipped behind by Scott Bain, with Claudio Braga glancing the resulting corner into the goalkeeper’s arms.

The deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion in the 22nd minute when Kyziridis picked up possession wide on the left, waltzed away from two Falkirk players and arced an audacious finish high beyond Bain from 25 yards out.

Hearts’ tails were up and they had a good chance to strike again three minutes later but Braga blazed over after being set up inside the box by Kyziridis.

Kyziridis was then denied by an excellent save from Bain as he slid in to meet Milne’s cross from the right just a couple of yards out.

The Jambos doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when Shankland dispossessed Henry Cartwright and rifled an emphatic low finish beyond the reach of Bain from just outside the box for his 163rd goal in the Scottish Professional Football League.

It took the Hearts skipper ahead of Rory McAllister as the highest scorer since the incarnation of the SPFL in 2013.

McGlynn made a double change for the start of the second half, with Gary Oliver and Scott Arfield sent on in place of Cartwright and Ethan Williams.

But the hosts continued on the front foot after the break, with Shankland denied by another brilliant save from Bain after being set up by Kyziridis. And from the resulting corner, Hearts stretched their lead in the 48th minute when Halkett headed home Kyziridis’ delivery.

There was to be no way back for Falkirk as McInnes’ increasingly sure-footed side closed out victory in impressive fashion.