Dennis Wyness scored his first goals since August 31 to give Hearts three points and increase the relegation worries for Bank of Scotland Premier League bottom-club Partick Thistle at Tynecastle.

The former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker opened the goalscoring three minutes before the break.

But, after the dismissal of Jags' midfielder Jamie Mitchell for a second bookable offence in the 59th minute, Wyness grabbed a second 12 minutes before the end.

Hearts head coach Craig Levein had been forced into a last-minute reshuffle after Scott Severin pulled out of the game in the warm-up.

Australian defender Partick Kisnorbo lined up alongside Paul Hartley in the middle of the park.

Phil Stamp tried an early powerful shot from the edge of the box, although his curling effort drifted well wide.

Mark de Vries then put his upper-body strength to good use to win a free-kick on the edge of the box in the sixth minute after tangling with Adrian Madaschi.

Robert Sloan stepped up to take the set-piece but his left-footed shot around the wall was easily smothered by Jamie Langfield.

The versatile Alan Maybury looked lively at left-back and won another free-kick on the wing just outside the box, which led to Mitchell receiving his first caution in the 14th minute.

However, Hartley wasted the chance to put the goalkeeper under pressure by blasting the ball over the bar.

There had been little other goalmouth action for supporters to get excited about in the first period.

However, just four minutes before the interval, Wyness brought the game to life when he scored only his second goal for Hearts.

Stamp's hopeful cross was completely misjudged by Madaschi and Wyness took full advantage to score.

There were shouts from the home fans for a penalty just seconds after the re-start when Wyness fell to ground under pressure from David Rowson but the referee waved play on.

The visitors started the second-half in a more direct manner having conceded the goal just before the break.

John-Paul McBride's goal-bound shot was superbly blocked by Andy Webster after a darting run from midfield.

But Partick's chances of finding an equaliser were dealt a blow when Mitchell was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute for dissent.

The midfielder was furious he was not awarded a penalty after he fell to the ground inside the box after a challenge from Maybury.

However, referee Mike McCurry was unhappy with Mitchell's words and reached for his pocket.

Hearts took full advantage and a second Wyness strike in the 79th minute put the game beyond doubt.

Stamp played a hopeful ball forward and substitute Kevin McKenna intercepted after Thistle failed to clear and he passed the ball to Wyness, who simply tapped the ball into the net from 18 yards.

Teams

Hearts: Gordon, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Kisnorbo, Stamp, Neilson (Simmons 68), Hartley, Sloan, de Vries (McKenna 57), Wyness, Simmons (Hamill 87).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Kirk.

Booked: Stamp.

Goals: Wyness 42, 78.

Partick: Langfield, Lilley, Murray, Madaschi, Milne, Mitchell, McBride (Thomson 79), Rowson, Ian Ross (Waddell 85), Fleming (Gibson 62), Grady.

Subs Not Used: Pinkowski, Forrest.

Sent Off: Mitchell (59).

Booked: Ian Ross, Mitchell, Milne, Rowson.

Att: 10,264

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).