Cheer for fans even in defeat Dynamo switches catch out Hearts

RAY HEPBURN

9 Aug 1989

Hearts 0, Dynamo Tbilisi 2

HEARTS suffered their first pre-season defeat last night against the Soviets, yet ironically gave 6000 fans more encouragement than in previous friendlies.

There were improved performances from Gary Mackay and Dave Kirkwood in midfield, while Yugoslav striker Husref Musemic became more involved in their build-up around the box.

But Hearts failed to score during a 30-minute spell of ascendancy in the opening half, and were always in danger of being caught.

The quick, long passes that switched direction of play were the hallmark of Tbilisi, who had attackers of great pace to match.

The Soviets came to Tynecastle after an embarrassing 4-0 hammering at Oldham, but on last night's performance their pre-match excuses were clearly valid.

They had arrived in England at 2am on the morning of that match, and had no specialised footwear for the English club's synthetic pitch.

However, Dynamo had no trouble on the excellent Tynecastle surface, as Cheoia indicated in the twelfth minute when he thundered a 25-yard drive against Henry Smith's crossbar.

Hearts' response was a free kick slipped short by Eamonn Bannon to Iain Ferguson, whose left-foot drive was held high up by Gabelia.

Musemic then headed a Ferguson cross downward towards the post before the former Dundee United striker again found Gabelia in good position to grasp another thundering volley.

Hearts continued to press and when Mackay traded passes with Bannon in the twenty-third minute he ended the sequence by sending a fierce right-foot drive which dipped just over from a difficult angle.

All that promise without a reward was punished three minutes before the interval.

Gogichaisvili's cross from the right was rifled into his own net at the post by Craig Levein.

Worse was to follow four minutes into the second half.

Levein gave the ball away to Tsveiba and when he quickly transferred the ball to Gogichaisvili, the winger calmly flicked the ball over Smith into the net.

Twenty-one-year-old Scott Crabbe had replaced Bannon at the interval, and his enthusiasm led Hearts towards a rally in the closing 15 minutes after the visitors had put a firm stranglehold on the match.

He burst past two midfield challenges to send in a blistering 25-yard drive which Gabelia did well to flick over.

Mackay then inspired an attack as Hearts desperately sought a late goal that would pull them back into contention, but when his first shot was blocked, Musemic could find no way through the packed defence.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, Whittaker, Levein, Berry, McPherson, Kirkwood, Mackay, Musemic, Ferguson, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Kidd, Wright.

TBILISI -- Gabelia, Ketashvili, Aptsiauri, Cheoia, Chikovani, Daraselia, Jishkariani, Tsveiba, Ketsbaya, Cacharava, Gogichaisvili.

Substitutes -- Arziani, Tetradze, Svanadze, Khapov.

Referee -- W Crombie (Edinburgh).