Brechin City 1-4 Hearts: Premiership side avoid close shave with the Hedge to seal spot in Scottish Cup last 16
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Hearts had to show composure and resilience to ride out a Scottish Cup scare before class told and booked them a fifth-round berth. Scott Bright, on loan from St Johnstone, served up an almighty fright six minutes after coming on as a first-half substitute with a wonder goal.
![[Yan Dhanda levelled things up for Hearts shortly before the half-time interval]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/22/94229227-0-image-a-160_1737152655824.jpg)
Never mind the famous Hedge at Brechin, this was Close to the Hedge stuff for Hearts. The Tynecastle side, however, showed a great appetite for the battle on what could have proved a taxing night. Yan Dhanda, crucially, calmed the nerves with an equaliser before half-time.
![[Elton Kabangu scored a double in the second half on his first start for the club]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/22/94229205-0-image-a-162_1737152682045.jpg)
Brechin thereafter couldn’t match their earlier levels of intensity, nor find answers for superior threats coming at them from all angles. Scott Bright fired the hosts into a surprise lead with a stunning long-range strike. Yan Dhanda levelled things up for Hearts shortly before the half-time interval.
![[Attacker Kabangu has joined Hearts on loan from Union St-Gilloise until the end of the season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/22/94229213-0-image-a-163_1737152686585.jpg)
Elton Kabangu scored a double in the second half on his first start for the club. They included Union Saint-Gilloise loan star Elton Kabangu on his first start. The Belgian striker had a big hand in the second, then opened his account for the club with a double as Hearts confidently pulled clear.
![[Hearts manager Neil Critchley was thrilled to get through a tricky tie unscathed]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/22/94229169-0-image-a-164_1737152695972.jpg)
Paddy Cregg’s Highland League leaders, out of action since December 28, were true to his promise they would make the evening ‘uncomfortable’ for the visitors from the off. The home crowd’s frenzy cranked up a notch when Fraser MacLeod rippled the side-netting on 12 minutes.
