Gazza's the friendly Spur.

IAN PAUL

14 Aug 1990

Hearts 1, Spurs 1

EVIDENCE of their hunger for the people's game, despite the disappointments of Italy, was not difficult to gather among Gorgie football folk last night.

A superb crowd, which looked much more than the official 18,068, turned up at Tynecastle for a friendly which whetted appetites for the real thing which is yet eleven days away.

They were still rolling in half-an-hour after the start, by which time the visiting managers from other clubs had enjoyed some fair entertainment for such an exercise.

Among them was Graeme Souness, whose career began with Tottenham, as well as his Rangers chairman David Murray.

Apart from the zany Paul Gascoigne, who had his name taken but still managed to delight the crowd, the Rangers men saw a decent show from the player they transferred to Hearts for £750,000, Derek Ferguson.

The midfield man still looks short of match fitness, but when he did get involved in the action, he was impressive.

Best of all however, were the international defenders, Craig Levin and David McPherson, although they were caught off guard by Spurs' goal, scored by David Howells in the second half.

That had cancelled out Wayne Foster's fine score in the first half, but probably put a fair reflection on a match that might prove as enjoyable as much that will follow in the heat of battle.

Comparatively gentle though the pace was, at least in the beginning, Spurs' hero of Italy, Gascoigne, managed to work up such a state of excitement that he was warned, and then booked before 12 minutes had passed.

However difficult it was for spectators to see why he had become quite so animated, the fact was that referee George Smith had to take him aside after only three minutes.

The Englishman had seen something apparently unfair in a free kick awarded to Hearts, and let Mr Smith know his views.

But the local referee, who also was in Italy -- where he booked six players in the Austria-Czechoslovakia tie -- offered his own firm reply to the player.

This did not seem to be effective.

Before another nine minutes had gone, Gascoigne could not resist giving his opinion of another free kick, awarded after Bergsson had fouled Crabbe.

This time, inevitably, he was shown the yellow card.

The consequence, for a while, was a quiet Gazza, who then produced a few glimpses of that thrilling talent which earned plaudits in the World Cup finals.

He split the Tynecastle defence with one brilliant pass and Paul Stewart ought to have scored, even if Henry Smith did well to touch the ball from his feet.

Hearts, who had missed their first good chance, when Crabbe flicked the ball over the bar from a Levein header, did not squander their second.

Inevitably, Gascoigne had to be involved, losing the ball to Levein, whose long forward pass was dummied by Robertson into the path of Foster.

The speedy Englishman slipped out of the reach of a posse of defenders before hitting a fine 20-yard shot into the corner of the net.

Spurs managed to miss a few much easier opportunities, especially Gascoigne (who else?).

He was robbed once at the last second by Levein and on another occasion saw Smith make a tremendous save from his close-in shot.

By now, however, the eccentric Englishman was clowning with the crowd, between spurts of some sparkling play.

The lad does give value for money.

Hearts continued to please their enthusiastic supporters with pacy, aggressive play which disconcerted the tall London defenders.

Prompted well by Derek Ferguson, the Robertson-Foster-Crabbe trio revealed some clever inventive manoeuvrings that might well have brought results early in the second half.

Ferguson laid on one splendid pass to McLaren, who did not take even a second to decide the next move -- a fierce low drive that was pushed aside brilliantly by Erik Thorstvedt.

But Spurs could still produce threats of their own.

Stewart, for instance finished off one intelligent move with a swerving shot that ended up only a couple of feet off target.

And their captain Gary Mabbutt headed narrowly over from an accurate cross by Allen, who got into the act himself a couple of minutes later with a hard drive that brought out a marvellous save from Smith.

Midway in the half, Hearts put on Eamonn Bannon for McCreery, and later Spurs replaced Stewart with Walsh.

But it was bound to be Gascoigne who set up the English equaliser.

And he did it with a free kick in 71 minutes.

David Howells was the man who took advantage of his perfect cross to head the ball home, with the Hearts defence, for once, looking slack.

With fourteen minutes left, Hearts put on Berry for Crabbe and before the end, Gary Lineker received a sporting ovation when he was replaced by Paul Moran.

But even that was but a whisper compared to the mighty cheer that greeted the remarkable Gascoigne when he left the field to be replaced by John Moncur.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, McCreery, McPherson, Ferguson, Mackay, Robertson, Crabbe, Foster.

Substitutes -- Berry, Bannon, Kirkwood, Wright, Walker.

TOTTENHAM -- Thorstvedt, Bergsson, Edinburgh, Sedgeley, Howells, Mabbutt, Stewart, Gascoigne, Nayim, Lineker, Allen.

Substitutes -- Walsh, Moncur, Moran, Butters, Polston, Tuttle.

Referee -- G B Smith (Edinburgh).

Taken from the Herald