Reserve power a winner

RAY HEPBURN

11 Nov 1991

THE debate over whether Hearts will retain their position at the top of the premier-division table seems to circulate around the widely-held belief that Joe Jordan's squad is short of depth.

There is a valid argument over whether the cover he has assembled on a meagre budget is of sufficient quality, but the Edinburgh team are coping pretty well amid high absenteeism.

To date, Eamonn Bannon, Neil Berry, Wayne Foster and mid-summer signing Gary Williams have made virtually no contribution to the campaign because of a variety of long-term injuries.

On Saturday, suspension deprived the team of Craig Levein, Tosh McKinlay and John Millar, while a handful of other players have, at varying times, been out because of injury or because they have edged over the disciplinary threshold.

To hold their form, and their lofty position in the league, in the circumstances counters criticism over lack of numbers.

The final league table in May will decide if the numbers are good enough.

Saturday's performance in their 2-1 victory over a similarly under-strength St Johnstone team was predictable.

Hearts' flair has temporarily gone, but their determination, desire and perseverance remain intact.

Much of the game was untidy but, even if the Perth team were left shattered by Graeme Hogg's injury-time winner, that late goal did perhaps reflect the home team's superior share of possession.

Hearts, in spells just after the interval and in the closing 10 minutes, put together passages of play higher in quality than St Johnstone's best efforts.

On this evidence, and without several key players, Alex Totten need have no security fears.

There are several teams in the premier division that would require improvement to emulate Saints' standard.

After 61 minutes, when Ian Baird head-glanced in one of Hearts nine second-half corners, it seemed as if the match was moving towards the expected conclusion.

However, in several earlier raids Saints had been precise and quick and their reward followed three minutes later.

Gary McGinnis pinpointed Tommy Ward on the right and his driven cross was headed in by Harry Curran.

St Johnstone, who had contained Hearts at times in the middle area of the pitch with a degree of success, then made the error of trying to do it around their own penalty area.

As the late home pressure gathered momentum, Hogg thrashed in the winner after Baird had again headed on a Ferguson corner.

It was the Aberdeen-born defender's first-ever goal in Scotland after

more than a decade down south with Manchester United and Portsmouth.

Taken from the Herald