Hearts win over Dundee ideal preparation for Celtic cup clash – Craig Levein

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2018 by PA

Hearts manager Craig Levein admitted a stress-free night in Dundee was ideal preparation for the Betfred Cup semi-finals after his side went six points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

A 3-0 victory on Tayside saw the leaders extend the gap on Celtic ahead of Sunday’s BT Murrayfield encounter between the two teams.

Two goals inside 14 minutes from Oliver Bozanic and Steven Naismith put Hearts in total control and the second half was a stroll after Steven MacLean netted from close range 20 seconds after the restart.

Levein said: “I thought we started well, scored early. Dundee are in a difficult place right now and I think the early goal for us was really important. It put them on the back foot. The second goal put us in a position that I hoped we would never lose from.

“On Saturday we were 2-0 up against Aberdeen and lost the third goal. The important message at half-time was to get the third goal and your evening becomes easier. We scored within two or three minutes. It was one of the less stressful games.

“I don’t need to worry about the points just now. We’re not back in (league) action until the Hibs game. This game on Sunday becomes our focus. We’re in good form.

“It was good that Steven MacLean got a goal. He’s missed a few chances recently and it was great for him to get on the scoresheet.

“Oli Bozanic scores his first goal for the club and we had Harry Cochrane back from injury. It’s been a good night for us.

“It does enable us to have played two matches in a short space of time before the semi and won them both. The players have to take confidence from the fact that they’re in really good form.”

Dundee boss Jim McIntyre warned there might be more pain ahead after seeing his team concede seven goals without reply in his first two matches.

“It’s a needless free-kick to give away and Hearts have shown their quality by punishing us,” said McIntyre, whose side missed a penalty through Calvin Miller midway through the first half.

“But we need to give ourselves a hand.

“They showed plenty of character at 2-0 down. With the way things have been going it would be easy to feel sorry for themselves and collapse, but they never, they kept at it in the first half and created some good opportunities.

“That’s the positives but we need to eradicate self-destructing. There might be a bit of pain before it gets better, but it will get better.”