THE history books will show that Osman Sow, Danny Wilson and Billy King scored the goals as Hearts continued their inevitable march towards the Scottish Championship title.

For anyone in attendance at Tynecastle Stadium yesterday, however, a poignant day was all about one person: David Craig Mackay. In the first home fixture since his passing at the age of 80, Heart of Midlothian Football Club and their supporters took the opportunity to say goodbye to the man widely regarded as the greatest player ever to pull on a maroon jersey.

Jimmy Murray, Gordon Marshall, Freddie Glidden, of the storied First Division title winning side in 1958, lined the pitch to pay tribute to their former teammate ahead of kick-off.

Luminaries such as Alan Mullery, Roy McFarland and Pat Jennings, all giants of the game in their own right, also humbled themselves in the memory of Mackay in a commemorative 100-page match-day programme, with descriptions ranging from "immense" to "simply the best".

It is clear that Mackay was the legend's legend; the great's great; the icon's icon.

As one would expect for an individual so widely respected throughout Scottish and, indeed, British football, a minute's silence was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters prior to kick off. Wins in their upcoming matches against Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Queen of the South will now see Hearts crowned champions ahead of their trip to face Rangers on April 5, but yesterday was about celebrating the past rather than considering the future. "The whole atmosphere around the place and the build-up this week has been really inspirational for the players," Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson reflected. "Everyone knows what Dave Mackay meant to this club and it was important we put on a good display and got the right result for him."

Believers in fate might be inclined to think it shaped this encounter after Sow opened the scoring on the 53-minute mark. It is hard to think of a more appropriate moment for the deadlock to be broken, given Mackay made his Hearts debut in 1953.

Sow reacted quickest inside the box to prod home a close range finish after Danny Rogers had fumbled a Sam Nicholson corner, albeit the Dumbarton goalkeeper was adamant he was fouled.

It was similarly fitting to see Wilson, a contemporary successor to Mackay's captaincy, rising highest to meet a King corner and head home the second ago, of the game from six yards.

"A win was important and it was pleasing to do it in that manner and get a good score line on an emotional day," said the Hearts skipper. "To be the captain is something I am very proud of on a day like this. "It was nice to score as well, that's two in two for me. I've told Alim (Ozturk) that I am catching him up - albeit he tends to score his from a wee bit further out."

Gloss was added in the form of two remarkably similar goals by King. He showed blistering pace to cut in from the right flank, dancing past a few tired challenges along the way, before dispatching a low shot past Rogers. Two-and-a-half minutes later he repeated the feat, beating Rogers again from just inside the box.

"We wanted to use today as inspiration for ourselves and hope it worked in reverse for Hearts, whie remaining respectful," said Dumbarton manager Ian Murray. "Perhaps they would have a little trepidation of such a big day and the demands of the fans.

"We had Hearts worried and the crowd wee getting on their backs a wee bit, but the two goals we conceded changes things."

HEARTS (4-4-2): Alexander; Paterson, Ozturk, Wilson, Eckersley; Walker (Keatings 59), Pallardo, Gomis, Nicholson; Sow (King 59), Zeefuik (El Hassnaoui 75). Subs not used: Hamilton, Anderson, McKay, McGhee.

DUMBARTON (5-4-1): Rogers; Wilson (Gilhaney 76), Findlay, Graham, Taggart, Linton (Easton 65); Petrie, Fleming, Turner, Agnew; Duggan (Megginson 85). Subs not used: Ewings, Mair,, McCallum, Campbell.

Referee: John Beaton

Att: 15,631