Sons put in an good first half performance as the tie remained goalless at half-time, however the hosts finally broke the deadlock through Osman Sow before further goals from Danny Wilson and a Billy King double put Hearts another step closer towards the title. Ian Murray made two changes to his Dumbarton side who picked up their first win of 2015 last week, bringing in Mark Wilson and Darren Petrie for Mark Gilhaney and Dylan Easton which seen Sons move to a 3-5-2 formation. Hearts were in control of possession in the opening stages, but failed to create any chances. Chris Duggan capitalised on some poor defending from Hearts’ Alim Ozturk, he volleyed for goal from outside the area but his effort went wide. Sam Nicholson registered the Jambos first shot of the game when he cut in from the left and shot, but it was easily caught by Danny Rogers. Duggan was putting in a hardworking shift for Dumbarton, and created another chance out of nothing shortly after. He shrugged off challenges from Ozturk and Callum Paterson before taking an angled shot for the near corner, however Neil Alexander dived to his right to save. Jamie Walker then hit the outside of the post for the hosts after some good passing build up play as they cranked up the pressure. Rogers was called into action once more on the half hour mark. A long range strike from Osman Sow was headed for the top corner, but Rogers somehow got a hand to the ball and tipped it into the bar before reacting quickly and gathering the rebound to ensure Sons would stay level. Hearts were pushing for a goal before half-time, and had it not been for a vital touch from Scott Taggart to divert Adam Eckersley’s cross into Rogers hands, Jambos striker Genero Zeefuik may have found the net, that ensured Sons went in to half time at 0-0. Zeefuik had an attempt of his own in the early stages of the second half, however he couldn’t get a clean shot away inside a crowded 18-yard-box and Rogers gathered the ball easily. The home side would take the lead, though, on 53 minutes. A corner from Nicholson was met by Sow, who lashed the ball into the net. Dumbarton debated to referee John Beaton that Rogers had been fouled in the build up, but the goal stood. Sons could have had an equaliser on the hour when Andy Graham’s goalbound volley from Scott Agnew’s corner was crucially and bravely blocked by Wilson. Not too long after denying a goal for Dumbarton, Wilson scored one for Hearts.

The Jambos captain was unmarked from a corner and powerfully headed the ball into the net. Ian Murray made a few changes to try and shake things up as Dumbarton pushed for a consolation that set up a grandstand finish, introducing Mitch Megginson, Easton and Gilhaney to the action. The Sons players were being loudly cheered on all afternoon from a vocal away support, who were lead on by members from the Swiss Sons Supporters Group who had come over from Switzerland for the game. Substitute Billy King added a third for the hosts on 86 minutes when he fired the ball into the bottom corner following a driving run.

The Tynecastle side added some gloss to the scoreline through King once more in added time, this time the substitute cut in from the right and his powerful shot hit the back of the net to make it 4-0. It would always have been a forlorn hope for Sons to register any point from this tie as Hearts continue their charge towards the Championship title. Up next for Sons is bottom placed Livingston away from home on Saturday, March 21.