IF this was the Scottish equivalent of "yeah, but can they do it on a freezing night in Stoke" then Hearts passed the test with flying colours.

It was perishing at the Bet Butler stadium, an icy wind whipping in off the neighbouring Clyde, dumping the occasional flurry of sleet, snow or rain, and making every high ball a study in guesswork.

It was as unpleasant as being stuck in a lift with Katie Hopkins, but Hearts dealt with it all expertly to eventually run out comfortable winners. They remain undefeated in the league, 13 points clear of second-placed Rangers who they meet at Ibrox on Friday night. Should they emerge from that one unscathed, they can probably safely start planning for a championship party in Gorgie in May.

It would prove to be quite the debut for Genero Zeefuik. The former Dutch under-21 international was thrust straight into Robbie Neilson's starting line-up just days after completing his loan move from Groningen and made an instant impact.

Something of a fuller figure, the 24-year-old proved deceptively mobile as he helped himself to two goals and spurned a great chance for a hat-trick before departing shortly afterwards to a standing ovation. Cult hero status seems already assured.

"We brought Genero in this week and I thought he was fantastic," said Robbie Neilson, the Hearts manager. "I was delighted for him, getting his goals. He had a difficult time at Groningen at the start of this season when he wasn't involved and lost his focus. Hopefully now he will become a big asset for us."

Hearts have failed to score only once in the league this season, their trip to Dumbarton earlier in the season the only blot on that record. They more than made amends here, even if they had to weather some sustained Dumbarton pressure in the first half before the floodgates opened.

With Jamie Walker and Sam Nicholson a persistent threat on the flanks, it probably ought to have been more than five by the end, Zeefuik ruining an otherwise perfect first appearance by missing a second-half penalty and James Keatings then somehow spooning a shot over the crossbar from a matter of yards.

Given their fondness for the scoreline, however, there weren't too many among the Hearts support overly despondent that it ended up 5-1, giving them an extra reason to taunt Ian Murray, the former Hibernian player now manager at Dumbarton.

"I thought we played really well," added Neilson. "We rode our luck a bit in the first half, but going into the second half 2-0 up and with the wind behind us I was always confident we would go on and win."

Dumbarton will look back on a period in the first half, when they were only a goal down, when they did everything but score. Scott Agnew hit the crossbar with a corner, Chris Turner did the same with a header - he ought to have scored - before Archie Campbell saw a goalbound effort hooked off the line by Alim Ozturk.

Hearts scored their second shortly afterwards and Dumbarton, playing against the wind in the second half, knew they were up against it from then on in. Their only goal - scored by Chris Kane in the final match of his loan spell - would prove to be little consolation.

"We had chances in the first half when we were with the wind, but when we were 2-0 down against the wind we knew it was going to be a hard ask for us," said Murray. "You have to be ruthless against these teams. If you're not they will come back and bite you."

Walker was at the centre of just about everything positive in Hearts' play. He scored their second goal after being played in by Zeefuik, then returned the favour by setting up both of the Dutchman's strikes as well as Nicholson's second. He also won a penalty after being upended by Scott Linton, only for Zeefuik to see both his initial effort and the rebound well saved.

The only goal in which the winger didn't have a role was Hearts' first, Nicholson zipping in a shot from 25 yards after just eight minutes. It would set the tone for an eventful afternoon.