Hearts ease to 2-0 victory over Queen of the South in Scottish Championship

Recently-crowned Scottish Championship winners Hearts celebrated another three points as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Queen of the South in Edinburgh.

Playing their first home match since securing the title last Sunday, goals from Osman Sow and Alim Ozturk took the Jambos beyond 80 points as they made it 26 wins from 30 matches this season.

Sow got the Tynecastle party up and running as early as the sixth minute, although it needed another hour before Ozturk added a second for the dominant hosts.

The win extends their lead at the top of the table to 26 points, although Hearts should have added further goals in what was largely a one-sided game.

Sow opened the scoring after collecting Billy King’s pass before lashing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

He almost added a second goal eight minutes later when his effort from a difficult angle flew inches wide of the left post.

The visitors were restricted to a handful of long range shots during the first half while Sow went close again just before the break when his low strike was saved by keeper Zander Clark.

The second goal finally arrived midway through the second half as Ozturk extended Hearts’ advantage with a free-kick that sneaked into the bottom right corner of the net after taking a deflection.

Queen of the South came into the game more during the final quarter of an hour with Kevin Holt, Gavin Reilly and Mark Durnan all having shots off target.

But by then Hearts had already wrapped up the points, while the beaten Doonhammers – who now have fixtures against Hibernian and Rangers – cling on to the final play-off spot in fourth.