KYLE LAFFERTY struck on his debut to give Hearts a winning Betfred Cup start on a hot night at League 2 Elgin, writes Audrey Main.
The Northern Irish international headed home the only goal on the hour to break the resistance of Jim Weir’s battlers.
Hearts manager Ian Cathro handed a Hearts debut second time round to Christophe Berra, while Manchester City loan defender Ashley Smith-Brown and summer signings Michael Smith and Kyle Lafferty also took their bow in front of a big travelling support from the capital.
Elgin, who crashed to a 6-0 defeat at Dunfermline in their opening game in the group, brought in new striker Jordan Allan whose last club was Coleraine in Northern Ireland.
Berra almost made a dream return with a third-minute header from Don Cowie’s free kick, but Elgin keeper Marc Waters saved well and the Hearts defender was penalised for a foul in any case.
Jamie Walker had the ball in the net for Hearts on 15 minutes following a mix-up between home keeper Waters and defender Darryl McHardy in trying to deal with a high ball through the middle. However an offside flag cut short Walker’s celebrations.
New boy Smith-Brown’s first game for the Edinburgh side was to be a short-lived one as he picked up a knock midway through the first half and was replaced by Polish new signing Rafal Grzalek.
Lafferty had a chance on the half hour but his effort sclaffed sideways and fell kindly for Esmail Goncalves, who curled wide from 15 yards. Three minutes before the break Lafferty rose to meet a Berra ball from deep and head it into the path of Cowie, who blazed his volley over the target from 10 yards.
The visitors finally made a breakthrough on the hour and it was Lafferty who came up with the goods.
Matthew Cooper fouled Goncalves on the left side of the box for a free kick. It was played to Grzalek who put in a cross for Lafferty to rise unmarked and plant a header out of Waters’ reach into the far corner.
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