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Shankland wrapped things up for Hearts with a wonderful chipLawrence Shankland took his goal tally for the season to 24 as Hearts advanced to a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Morton with a comprehensive win at Airdrieonians.
Goals from Shankland, Kenneth Vargas and Calem Nieuwenhof inside the first 21 minutes put Steven Naismith's side firmly in command, but Adam Frizzell's glancing header gave the hosts hope.
Scotland striker Shankland doubled his tally in the second half with a sumptuous chip to top off an excellent performance and guarantee Hearts a trip another second-tier side next month.
Airdrie won a couple of corners early on as they looked for a foothold against their top-flight opposition, but they were undone by a stunning Hearts goal.
Shankland started the move, linking up with Nieuwenhof in his own half, before some slick one-touch passing released Alex Cochrane down the left-hand side.
The English defender got his head up to pick out Shankland's run, and the 28-year-old swept home.
The hosts came within inches of equalising when Mason Hancock's header crashed off the bar, but just seconds later they found themselves two behind.
Craig Halkett pinged a wonderful pass over the top into Vargas' stride, and although the Costa Rican forward saw his initial effort saved by Josh Rae, he inadvertently bundled the follow-up over the line to the delight of the large travelling support.
It would go from delight to dreamland shortly after when Nieuwenhof chopped on to his left foot, put a defender on the floor with a clever feint, then fired into the bottom corner.
Airdrie continued to pop the ball around with confidence despite the scoreline, and pulled one back when Frizzell ghosted into the box to head home Hancock's cross.
The pace of the game dropped after the break, but Hearts missed a big chance to kill off the tie when Alan Forrest blazed high over the bar having been played in by a gorgeous Shankland backheel.
The Hearts captain showed Forrest the way, dinking a delightful finish over Rae after Scott Fraser played him in on goal.
Forrest shot wide as Hearts searched for a fifth, but nothing could dampen spirits in the away end as Hearts' wonderful form continued with a 10th win in an 11-game unbeaten run.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Airdrieonians
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rae
- 16WatsonSubstituted forBallantyneat 85'minutes
- 4McCabe
- 6Fordyce
- 5Hancock
- 14McMaster
- 21TelferSubstituted forGallagherat 77'minutes
- 24LyallSubstituted forDonnellat 77'minutes
- 10Frizzell
- 8McGregor
- 11TodorovSubstituted forGallagherat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ballantyne
- 3Taylor-Sinclair
- 7O'Connor
- 9Gallagher
- 19Dunlop
- 26Donnell
- 28Gallagher
- 29Cassidy
- 43Hutton
Hearts
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Gordon
- 81LembikisaSubstituted forAtkinsonat 74'minutes
- 4HalkettSubstituted forRowlesat 26'minutes
- 3Kingsley
- 19Cochrane
- 6BaningimeSubstituted forTaitat 65'minutes
- 8Nieuwenhof
- 77VargasSubstituted forTagawaat 45'minutes
- 7GrantSubstituted forFraserat 66'minutes
- 17Forrest
- 9Shankland
Substitutes
- 2Kent
- 13Atkinson
- 14Devlin
- 15Rowles
- 22Denholm
- 25Tait
- 28Clark
- 29Fraser
- 30Tagawa
Live Text
Match ends, Airdrieonians 1, Heart of Midlothian 4.
Second Half ends, Airdrieonians 1, Heart of Midlothian 4.
Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Callum Fordyce (Airdrieonians).
Attempt saved. Kyosuke Tagawa (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rhys McCabe (Airdrieonians).
Attempt missed. Calum Gallagher (Airdrieonians) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Scott Fraser (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Joshua Rae.
Attempt saved. Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Airdrieonians. Cameron Ballantyne replaces Craig Watson.
Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dean McMaster (Airdrieonians).
Attempt missed. Calum Gallagher (Airdrieonians) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high.
Foul by Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian).
Chris Donnell (Airdrieonians) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Kyosuke Tagawa (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Mason Hancock (Airdrieonians).
Substitution, Airdrieonians. Gavin Gallagher replaces Charles Telfer.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Airdrieonians
Squad number1Player nameRae
Squad number16Player nameWatson
Squad number4Player nameMcCabe
Squad number6Player nameFordyce
Squad number5Player nameHancock
Squad number14Player nameMcMaster
Squad number21Player nameTelfer
Squad number24Player nameLyall
Squad number10Player nameFrizzell
Squad number8Player nameMcGregor
Squad number11Player nameTodorov
Squad number2Player nameBallantyne
Squad number9Player nameGallagher
Squad number26Player nameDonnell
Squad number28Player nameGallagher
Heart of Midlothian
Squad number1Player nameGordon
Squad number81Player nameLembikisa
Squad number4Player nameHalkett
Squad number3Player nameKingsley
Squad number19Player nameCochrane
Squad number6Player nameBaningime
Squad number8Player nameNieuwenhof
Squad number77Player nameVargas
Squad number7Player nameGrant
Squad number17Player nameForrest
Squad number9Player nameShankland
Squad number13Player nameAtkinson
Squad number15Player nameRowles
Squad number25Player nameTait
Squad number29Player nameFraser
Squad number30Player nameTagawa
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