Raith Rovers produced a much-improved performance at Tynecastle on Saturday but it wasn’t enough to prevent a defeat that leaves the Kirkcaldy men without a league win in six.
Raith have been on a poor run of form of late but, after falling behind early to another Alim Ozturk wonder strike, they managed to contain the free-scoring league leaders with a hard-working and organised display and they were unfortunate not to take something from the game after making a late push for an equaliser.
Former Hearts striker Calum Elliot returned to his old stomping ground and felt that he and his Raith team-mates gave a better account of themselves after a heavily criticised display in the Scottish Cup the previous week.
“I thought we put on a slightly better performance than last Saturday, which was important because we let ourselves down against Linlithgow despite the result,” he said.
“We had to come out and show what we were all about today and we possibly deserved something from the game.
“We had them camped in at the end when they’ve gone down to 10 men but that’s when we’ve got to try and create more chances. Hopefully that will come in the next few weeks.
“We’re getting everyone back from injury and I think we’ll see an improvement in performances.”
The match was preceded by a lone piper’s lament and a minute’s silence as both clubs paid tribute to former players who gave their lives serving in First World War with McCrae’s Battalion.
The occasion attracted a near capacity crowd to Tynecastle and the home fans were on their feet in the fifth minute as Edinburgh derby hero Ozturk scored another long-range stunner.
The Turkish centre-back stepped into the Rovers half and, with the home fans encouraging him to shoot and Raith midfielders backing off, he let fly from 35 yards and the swerve seemed to catch out David McGurn, who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
The same player went close again a few minutes later as Ross Perry fouled Jamie Walker 25 yards out and Hearts fans cheered as Ozturk stepped up to take it although on this occasion he narrowly missed the target.
Raith steadied the ship after a difficult opening and they started to frustrate Hearts.
The second half continued in the same manner, with neither side creating chances until the home side were reduced to 10 men as they lost Adam Eckersley to injury after using all their subs.
Raith pushed forward and the chance they’d waited all game for arrived in the 88th minute as sub Mark Stewart found space in the box but his shot on the turn was well saved by Neil Alexander.
Liam Fox also went close in the 90th minute as Alexander’s sliced clearance fell to the midfielder who tried his luck from 40 yards but the keeper recovered his positioning to make a diving save.
“Overall we’re a bit disappointed,” said Raith boss Grant Murray.
“I’ve been to Hearts games a few times and watched them destroy teams so we had to frustrate them and I felt we did.
“As a unit and as a defence I thought we were outstanding.”
“We changed it slightly in the second half and we were rattling them but we just couldn’t get that final effort on goal.”