Hearts have champion qualities.

Keeper sparks fightback

jim reynolds

18 Nov 1991

TO WIN championships in any sport you have to possess a certain kind of steel and reserves of courage and character on which you can draw when normal effort has proved to be not enough.

Of the two premier-division contenders on show at Tynecastle on Saturday, Hearts had more of the stuff of which champions are made than Celtic.

Ever since the class of '86 failed to take the title because they lost two late goals at Dens Park on the final day of the season, Hearts' connections have been understandably reluctant to talk about winning any major honour, but, on the evidence available, Joe Jordan has put together a side built of sterner quality, certainly one which could bring back the glory days to Tynecastle.

They still don't talk about the possibility of the championship coming to Gorgie Road, but there is no doubt about the self-belief these players have at the moment.

"You won't get me making predictions," said Scott Crabbe.

"But we always fancied ourselves to win this one, and the longer we can stay on top of the league the more confident we'll become."

Hearts comfortably won 3-1, after giving Celtic a goal of a start, to maintain their unbeaten home record in the league, and now they head for Aberdeen on Wednesday night on a high.

The only black spot on a fine afternoon for the league leaders was a first-half ankle injury to midfield man Derek Ferguson, who had to be taken off and is now doubtful for the trip to Pittodrie.

Said manager Jordan: "I don't think there are many players like Derek in Scotland, so if he is to miss out then it will be a big blow for us.

"We are not so well off that we can afford to lose players of his calibre.

When we have to do without key players through injury or suspension the lads who come in do well, but the balance of the side isn't right."

The balance was perfect on Saturday as Hearts recovered from losing an early goal, when a Gerry Creaney shot took a wicked deflection off Davie McPherson and fell to Tommy Coyne, who did so well to clip the ball in from an acute angle.

Even at that point Hearts looked the better side -- certainly, they were the hungrier and more determined, but for a long spell it seemed as if things were not going to go their way, and when Ferguson had to be replaced by George Wright the odds against a comeback were considerably lengthened.

Then, just after half-time, came one of those moments which can stand a game on its head.

Brian O'Neil crossed from the by-line, Coyne sent in a powerful header and Henry Smith produced a truly magnificent save, which I doubt he has bettered in his long career.

It was the stuff to inspire even the most dejected and it sparked a tremendous response from Hearts.

Said international defender Craig Levein: "Henry's save was the turning point.

If Celtic had gone two up our heads may well have gone down, but from that point we seemed to take off."

McPherson, a majestic figure throughout, headed a ball back for Wright to equalise in 55 minutes, six minutes later the same player laid on another header for Levein to sweep Hearts ahead, and the result never looked in any doubt after that.

Celtic, who had defended so well in the first half, became ragged and Hearts could have driven a herd of cattle up the right flank such was the space they were given.

In 71 minutes, McPherson exploited the gap when he ran all of 70 yards down that side and crossed for Crabbe to supply the finishing touch with his first goal in seven matches.

"I'm really glad I scored," he said.

"When I go seven games without a goal I begin to panic."

Celtic came down to earth with a bump following good results against Rangers and Aberdeen, and manager Liam Brady will almost certainly have to dig deep into his pocket to pay an SFA fine for his verbal assault on referee Sandy Roy at the after-match talk-in.

Said Brady: "I'm not making excuses for my team, for Hearts deserved to win, but I'm annoyed at the referee.

At the first Hearts goal they had two men on our goal-line who had to be offside, and just before they scored the second Pat Bonner was held by Baird.

I'm very disappointed with the officials."

Brady's comments may have had some legitimacy, but it would have been a travesty if Hearts had not taken both points from the match.

They had a side full of willing workers, including several with a high degree of skill, and eventually revelled in a rare situation which saw opponents come to Tynecastle and play an open game.

Said Jordan: "That doesn't happen very often here, but Celtic always come to try and win the game, and it all makes for great entertainment for the spectators."

Brady, while fuming at the match officials, certainly showed no ill-will towards the victors.

He said: "Joe has got them very well organised and he has a very good side.

I don't know why people are saying Hearts won't stay top, for they'll be in there at the end of the day.

They have a genuine chance of the title."

Celtic still have a bit to go before they can claim to have a similar chance.

Taken from the Herald