Hearts' behaviour hard to swallow Unsavoury scences spoiled a polished Celtic performance

IAN PAUL

20 Mar 1989

By IAN PAUL

Celtic 2, Hearts 1

LIKE a bad sandwich, the bits in the middle were rotten; yet the Celtic play in the beginning and the Hearts play in the end were excellent.

The puzzle is that Hearts took so long to find their true rhythm and managed it with nine men at a time when, by rights, they ought to have been exhausted.

Celtic, on the other hand, seemed to lose their dashing, impressive style once the nonsense that spoiled the afternoon had been settled.

Playing against the nine with their ten, the Parkhead team revealed that death wish which has characterised some of their worst moments this season, a direct contrast with the splendid thrilling moves that had enthralled the crowd in the first half.

Apart from the obvious contribution of Mark McGhee, who may now have won Henry Smith for his mantelpiece, the top Celt in that spell was another man who has been around the scene for a while, Tommy Burns.

Revealing an astonishing energy, the midfield man who favours the left more than Arthur Scargill, stroked the ball around in attack and made telling interceptions at the back, scarcely pausing for breath.

He might well have scored in the second half but the chance fell to his right foot which has always had an independent trait of its own.

Burns and his colleagues, Paul McStay, Peter Grant, and Billy Stark, took almost complete command from early on and only the most committed Hearts man would contest their right to the lead collected for them by McGhee in 18 minutes.

The 31-year-old reacted quicker than the younger men around him when Mick McCarthy headed forward a clearance by Smith and finished the job with the professional ease of a true goalscorer.

The chances of a second goal for Celtic seemed good, but it came in the controversial circumstances which sparked off all the bother.

Frank McAvennie had squeezed the ball from the right through to McGhee who, with his back to Dave McPherson, went toppling as the defender shepherded him away from goal.

How much contact was made is uncertain, but referee David Syme had no doubts that a foul had been committed.

I was not so sure.

At any rate, after McPherson had his name taken Roy Aitken scored from the spot and all semblance of civilised entertainment disappeared.

Alan McLaren was sent off after indulging in presumably severe name-calling when about to be booked by the referee and Hearts seemed reluctant even to restart the game.

Immediately they did there was some frantic challenging for the ball and then Tosh McKinlay, a full back who is known for his skills rather than any uncouthness, had his inexplicable moment of madness.

As Billy Stark collected the ball the Hearts man lunged at him with two feet, injuring the Celtic player and provoking mayhem among the others.

Some jostling, shoving and odd fist flurries followed before the referee sent off McKinlay and then McCarthy, apparently for responding violently to the tackle.

When the troops came out for the second half there was a genuine fear of further war games and some of the nasty happenings could easily have provoked greater chaos.

However, Hearts, despite being reduced to nine and chasing a two-goal deficit, put in a terrific surge which might well have snatched a draw out of what seemed certain defeat.

Eamonn Bannon, who loped around trying his best to play the game he enjoys, all to do with the ball rather than the man, hit a marvellous free kick past Pat Bonner 18 minutes from the end to raise Tynecastle hopes as well as spirits.

They did not quite make it but their manager, Alex MacDonald, was entitled to be pleased with their attempts at recovery.

Celtic striker Frank McAvennie, who found himself in the strange position of being booed and cheered by different sections of the Celtic support, had a quiet afternoon, but not for the want of trying.

CELTIC -- Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy, Grant, Stark, McStay, McAvennie, McGhee, Burns.

Substitutes -- Walker, Miller.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, Berry, McPherson, Colquhoun, Mackay, Galloway, Ferguson, Bannon.

Substitutes, Robertson, Kidd.

Referee -- D F T Syme (Rutherglen).

Taken from the Herald