Hearts B 0 Cowdenbeath 0, Lowland League

The Blue Brazil put in a much improved performance on Friday night as they held Hearts B to a scoreless draw in the capital, writes Andy Mullen.

Dougie Hill's team travelled to Ainslie Park just three days after they fell to defeat at fellow Lowland League strugglers Broomhill, but will have felt that they could've taken all three points against the Jambos.

Despite the draw - which saw Cowden end with 10 men after Riley Haston had to hobble off, with them having used all their substitutes - they dropped a place to 16th in the table, after Broomhill claimed a second successive win against another side battling at the bottom end, Gala Fairydean Rovers.

The Young Jambos, with the new manager of the Gorgie club's first team, Neil Critchley, advising at Ainslie Park, went into the game winless in their last nine games.

READ MORE: Hill encouraged by Hearts show after Broomhill low

They did, however, include James Wilson, who recently scored in an Edinburgh derby draw with Hibernian, against a Cowden side seeking their first away win of the season.

The first opportunity of the match came in the seventh minute for Hearts when Dominic Plank burst into the box but sent his shot wide, and a minute later, Gus Stevenson sent an 18 yard effort past the post.

Then, at the other end, a Jamie Docherty free-kick was deflected for a corner as both sides looked to break the deadlock.

Another Plank shot went wide, while Ruaridh Lynch blocked a Lucas Smith shot, who then sent a header from a Wilson cross over the bar.

The second half saw Cowdenbeath come more into the game and, in the 68th minute, they had the best chance of the night to break the deadlock.

A long ball from Docherty was met by Sam Newman, but his shot from six yards was blocked by home goalkeeper, Jack Lyon, before Docherty saw a shot deflected over moments later.

The Blue Brazil then hd to fight out the closing stages a man short when Haston limped off, but they still had their chances, with Docherty sending a long lob just wide of target, before he then sent a free-kick into the box, which Newman sent over the bar.

The Blue Brazil then had to fight out the closing stages with ten men after Haston limped off but had their chances with Docherty sending a long lob just wide of the target and then he sent a free-kick into the home box which Newman sent just over the bar.

In the closing moments, Bobby McLuckie sent a shot into the side netting for the hosts, but the spoils were shared.

Hearts B: MacDonald (Lyon 63), Smith, Nair (James 63), Smutek, Stevenson (McLuckie 79), Wilson (Ross 63), Sandilands, Plank, Gillies, Crookston, Tait.

Subs not used: Duncan, Lister.

Cowdenbeath: Lynch, G MacPherson, Jordan, Hill (Trialist 63), Newman, McNab, Whyte, Walker (Burke 71), Docherty, McDonald, Sutherland (Haston 72).

Subs not used: Kerr, Denham, Fusco, Blair.

Referee: Cameron Stirling.

Attendance: 252.