Patient Barrie McKay finally broke his Hearts duck - but Robbie Neilson was left cursing his luck as Beni Baningime hobbled off to add to the Jambos’ injury woes.
McKay struck a sensational second half volley for his first goal at the 30th time of asking after Baningime’s early opener to move the Jambos to within eight points of clinching third spot.
But just a week after notching his own first goal for Hearts, Baningime then hobbled off with a knee injury after half an hour with the derby double header just around the corner.
That season-defining back-to-back league and cup battle with Hibs is edging ever closer.
But the gap between Auld Reekie’s finest has now stretched to a virtually insurmountable 16 points with Dundee United moving fourth and a massive 14 points behind the Jambos.
Neilson, who couldn’t fill his bench such is the injury list with John Souttar, Gary Mackay-Steven and Cammy Devlin among the big name absentees, paid tribute to McKay’s wonder goal but admitted he faces an anxious wait on Baningime.
He said: "The goal has been coming for Barrie for a while.
"I didn't think it would be a tap in when the goal came because he's a top player and we’re lucky to have him.
"I was behind it and when it left his boot, I thought it was going for the top corner.
"Hopefully that might open the floodgates for him.
"Barrie is a quiet lad and he just gets on with it, but the boys were giving him stick.
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