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A glut of goals ensured Hearts maintained their unbeaten record at the top of the Scottish Championship.

Osman Sow's header, Prince Buaben's penalty, Jason Holt's strike, a Callum Paterson header and Billy King's shot gave the hosts a very comfortable win.

Garry Fleming volleyed in for the visitors when Dumbarton were down by three.

Victory keeps the Tynecastle side nine points clear of Rangers in Scotland's second tier.

Sow started proceedings when he nodded home a Paterson cross. The quality of the delivery certainly helped the striker score his eighth goal of the season.

Number two came after King had been bundled to the ground just inside the box. Buaben stepped up and, although Danny Rogers managed to get a hand on the ball, he could not stop it from crossing the line.

Sow was replaced at the break by Holt and the youngster was quick to find the net for Hearts' third.

He found himself with plenty of time and space 25 yards from goal and fired the ball low into the corner.

Sam Nicholson's shot crashed off the crossbar and King had an effort that flew inches wide.

Fleming reduced the deficit with a neat volley from 10 yards out, firing home a headed knock-down by Colin Nish.

But the home side reacted well and Paterson nodded in King's corner.

And the hosts' fifth came when King hammered home a shot from just outside the 18-yard box.