HEARTS are fit to burst.

It is only some 16 months since football at Tynecastle was coloured by administration, an uncertain future and the certainty of relegation from the top flight.

A lustre has been restored to those in maroon this season, though, with matches to be won but also enjoyed fully. The Edinburgh side would manage both yesterday with a comfortable win against Queen of the South to maintain a sequence of results in which they have dropped points in just one league match this term.

The Edinburgh club have descended on the SPFL Championship from turmoil and have treated it like an occupation. A swell of travelling fans took control of a terracing behind one goal at Palmerston, with a couple of punters even setting up an ad hoc stall to sell scarves outside the ground. Hearts' players also succeeded in capturing further territory from the home side.

Hearts encountered resistance at first and still won convincingly against a Queens side depleted by a litany of injuries - new loan signing Greg Kiltie was thrust into the starting XI - and unable to unnerve their opponents consistently despite a spirited performance.

The Dumfries side found impertinence worked just as well. Hearts continue to survey the Championship comfortably, having risen to the top of the table relatively unmolested, but they encountered a Queens team intent initially on giving them a square go yesterday.

Gavin Reilly slid a shot past a post early in the first half, Andy Dowie flicked a header against the woodwork and Iain Russell nodded the ball wide from another testing cross.

Such agitation would be salved by Hearts' goals, but not before a rash moment from Alim Ozturk. The defender had made his way into the Queens penalty area to contest a free-kick only to become embroiled in a heated spat which concluded with the Turk raising his hands to both Russell and Dowie. Both the Queens defender and Ozturk were booked as a result. He retreated to a safe distance from controversy as the Edinburgh side went ahead. Their first goal provoked consternation from their hosts, the second brought simple resignation. Osman Sow broke Queens' resistance after 39 minutes when he turned Chris Higgins to whip a fierce drive against the underside of the crossbar.

The ball ricocheted over the line and back up, with referee Brian Colvin taking a moment before acknowledging a goal and he spent the next few minutes reviewing his decision with a posse of Queens players.

"If the referee got it right then it's a great goal but I'm not so sure [the ball crossed the line]," said player-manager James Fowler. His protests were waved away, with the home side appearing to wave in Prince Buaben to score a second three minutes later. The midfielder has hit his stride since joining during the close season and that carried him as far as the edge of the box, where he poked a shot past keeper Zander Clark.

The clouds of the first half were replaced by a sunnier disposition - Neil Alexander had only to collect a shot from Russell midway through the second half - and there was an appreciation towards Jordan McGhee too, as he added a third goal.

"We are still six points ahead of Rangers, but it's not about that," said Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson. "It's about winning games - we must keep winning."