FOR a second week in a row Hearts tested the nerves of their supporters with a performance that started with poise and assurance and ended in near panic.
Yet at the end of a thrilling 90 minutes at the Falkirk Stadium they had stretched their advantage over Rangers at the top of the SPFL Championship to six points.
By half-time, Robbie Neilson's league leaders were 2-0 up and cruising, their sparkling display a veritable showcase of energy, positivity and ability. All it took, though, was one twist, turn and shot from Falkirk's Botti Biabi to turn what had been a stroll for Hearts into a genuine struggle.
The 18-year-old substitute's goal set up a manic finale that included bookings galore, but Hearts just held on.
The visitors had been buoyed before the start of this evening encounter by news of their closest challengers' slip-up against Alloa Athletic at Ibrox.
With Spanish midfielder Miguel Pallardo in a deep playmaking position, Prince Buaben took up a more attacking role for Hearts and had a chance to open the scoring after 12 minutes. However, after dallying on the ball in the penalty box, he fired a shot into the side netting.
Hearts' intricate build-up play reaped its reward in the 27th minute when, after a jinking run, Billy King fed a pass into the path of the overlapping Kevin McHattie and the big left-back blasted the ball high into the net past Jamie MacDonald.
Hearts doubled their lead 11 minutes later with a goal that emphasised the brash impudence of this youthful side. Jamie Walker picked the ball up on the left side, nutmegged Falkirk right-back Joe Shaughnessy then drove into the penalty box before firing over a low cross that was deflected into the net by the sliding Soufian El Hassnaoui from six yards out.
Hearts were in total control at this stage, with the home team not mustering a single shot on target in the first half. The match, however, changed three minutes into the second half when Falkirk manager Peter Houston made a double substitution. He put on winger Alex Cooper and forward Biabi and immediately the tide turned.
A foul on Biabi on the edge of the box gave Cooper the chance to fire in a free-kick that Hearts keeper Neil Alexander dived to save. Alexander then had to save another Cooper shot before David McCracken tested him with a header.
Walker had a chance to put Hearts three ahead when he intercepted a poor pass from Biabi and raced through on goal, only for MacDonald to block his effort. Biabi netted with just under 20 minutes to go and Falkirk almost snatched a point in the closing moments when Shaugnessy threw himself at a long free-kick only to see his effort clear the bar.
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