Hearts 5 - 0 Airdrieonians: Hosts make comfortable progress despite injury concerns

Touted as a potential Scottish Cup upset, the fact that Hearts were able to defy the naysayers and overcome Airdrie to progress into the last 16, may not seem that significant but it was their first victory since November, their first clean sheet since October and only the second time they have managed more than two goals in a game this season.

There certainly was fresh energy, with double training sessions over the winter break allowing the German to imprint his playing style on his squad and team-bonding exercises spawning signs of a greater collective grit.

The goals, or lack of them, have been at the root of a lot of the anxiety that has plagued the side, with Stendel, pictured, open about his desire to bring in reinforcements in that area. Donis Avdijaj is expected to be in situ by the time the Gorgie side return to league action, with a trip to Dingwall on Wednesday, but without him the side still managed to carve out an opening goal in the seventh minute to calm any nerves and add a further four before the final whistle sounded.

“It’s a good feeling to get my first win, it’s a good start to 2020 and I hope it can give us a lift for the next games,” said Stendel, who was joined in the technical area for the first time by his new assistant, Jorg Sievers. “The early goal was very important because in the last games we started well but did not score. It gives the team a lift.

“I said to Andy Kirk and Jorg before the game started that the feeling in the changing room was good, I can feel more passion, more mentality and more power in the room. I said to the players that the biggest thing we can do is win games, and this was a good experience for us, especially for returning to the league on Wednesday against Ross County. We needed time to give this feeling back in the group, I can feel it in every training session.”

Fielding their youngest side of the season, the home side also benefited from the return to the starting line-up of new club captain Steven Naismith, vice-captain John Souttar and striker Conor Washington, while Craig Halkett shrugged off a knock to make the team and Ben Garuccio and Jamie Walker were options from the bench. But it was not the end of the club’s injury woes as Uche Ikpeazu, who was named as a sub, complained of a groin issue in the warm-up and had to be replaced on the bench by Steven MacLean.

Worse was to come as first Aaron Hickey and then Michael Smith, two of the gaffer’s favourite players, hobbled off in the first half. Describing the misfortune as “disappointing”, Stendel said they now face a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of the midweek match. But he was happier with the way his players handled the expectations of the crowd and converted chances to quash any Airdrie hopes of upsetting the odds.

Teenager Andy Irving and Naismith were involved in the opener, with the young midfielder showing a clinical edge to fire past David Hutton in the visitors’ goal.

The home support had to content themselves with that lead until early in the second half. That’s when Sean Clare, a player who seems to be benefitting from Stendel’s arrival more than most, sent a delightful dipping volley home in 54 minutes.

This was followed up four minutes later by a Naismith finish from close range, before the on-field leader set up another youngster, the in-rushing Euan Henderson, for his first senior Hearts goal 19 minutes from the end.

Airdrie deserve plaudits for the way they had a go, particularly in the more open first half, and they had shuffled the pack in search of a way back into the game, with Craig Thomson forcing a save from Joel Pereira, but it was Hearts who had suddenly developed a taste for goals, with current top scorer, defender Halkett weighing in in the dying seconds to make it five.