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Scottish Championship favourites Hearts secured a second win in a row but were made to work hard for it by Arbroath until Craig Wighton's winner.

The forward cleverly dinked the ball over goalkeeper Derek Gaston after 70 minutes during which the part-time hosts had the better of the chances.

Veteran striker Kris Doolan was denied twice by superb first-half stops from visiting goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The win sets up Hearts nicely for next weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final.

Robbie Neilson's side, who opened last Friday with a 6-2 demolition of Dundee, head to Hampden Park to face neighbours Hibernian top of the table and after five consecutive victories.

Arbroath can take heart from an improved performance on last week's opening defeat away to Raith Rovers.

But for fine saves from Scotland goalkeeper Gordon they would have been ahead before Liam Boyce went close for the visitors then Wighton was picked out by a fine Michael Smith pass out of defence to secure the win.

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell: "I've got pride in the way they played, but I've got no pride at all in the result. It doesn't matter who we're playing, I'm looking for something out of the game. Hearts didn't create an awful lot and they can thank Craig Gordon in the first half for a world-class save."

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "It was always going to be a difficult game against a very good team that play well at home - the third best home record in Scotland over the last two years. So we have to be very pleased with three points. The pitch was a bit heavy, so we put two up front, went a bit more direct and got our goal. Craig Gordon is still a world-class goalkeeper and does that every day in training."