True grit the key to Hearts' big push for title honours

By JIM REYNOLDS

16 Dec 1991

THOSE waiting for Hearts to crack in the race for the premier-division championship may be well advised not to hold their breaths.

On Saturday they once again showed the kind of grit and determination needed to win honours as they came from behind to beat Motherwell 3-1 at Tynecastle.

Their place at the top of the heap is not a false one.

As manager Joe Jordan celebrated his fortieth birthday yesterday he was more than pleased with the present his players provided.

"They gave me all I could ask for," he said.

"The football we played and the chances we created were a delight."

One man in particular was eager to give the manager a special gift, Yorkshire striker Ian Baird.

His goal -- a brave diving header which put Hearts 2-1 ahead -- typified the spirit and enthusiasm with which the league leaders are going about their business these days.

"Joe Jordan is not a man who will accept second best and that suits me," he said.

Baird, after spells with Leeds United and Middlesbrough, was a young man going nowhere until Jordan stepped in to bring him north.

"I realised I wasn't going to get my chance at the top in English football, so I decided to join one of the big Scottish clubs," he said.

"Now I am really enjoying myself.

Who wouldn't, playing in a side which is sitting at the top of the league?

"There is a lot of ignorance about Scottish football in England, where they think it is all about Rangers and Celtic.

I was in Middlesbrough recently and someone asked me where Hearts played, what city did they come from.

I could tell there's much more to football here than the Old Firm.

"To use an old cliche, there is still a long way to go but we are doing quite nicely.

There's no big secret to our success so far.

We play as a team, with everyone working hard for one another.

"Will Hearts crack? I don't think so as such, but it's a long season and we don't have the resources of others.

Take Rangers, for example: if they lose a key player they can go out and spend a million or two on a replacement.

But names don't win games."

Baird, who just two weeks ago settled his family in Edinburgh, is not blethering when he talks about team spirit and determination.

But the key to Hearts' success is the way the front three -- Baird, Scott Crabbe, and John Robertson -- are going about their work.

Just watching them makes you tired.

"John Robertson's record speaks for itself and Scott Crabbe has really grabbed his chance," said Baird.

"At one point it looked as if he was going to be sold to St Johnstone, but he has done as much as anyone to get us where we are.

He has great potential."

Hearts came back on Saturday after suffering two early blows.

They lost defender Craig Levein with a leg injury after just six minutes -- it is not as bad as was first feared and there is a chance he could play next Saturday -- then Chris McCart put Motherwell ahead when the home defence was caught flat-footed at a corner.

Motherwell contributed much to what was excellent entertainment and they have a right to feel aggrieved at the incident which brought Hearts' equaliser after 32 minutes.

Davie McPherson claimed he was pushed by Rob Maaskant, referee Jim McCluskey appeared to ignore that, but when the ball cruelly struck the big Dutchman's hand he gave a penalty, much to the amazement of all the Motherwell players.

Either way it was a harsh decision.

Crabbe banged in the equaliser from the spot for his third penalty success in the last four matches and Hearts were back in business.

Baird's courageous header came five minutes later, and right on the stroke of half-time John Millar provided the third goal with a spectacular volley from 20 yards.

Motherwell manager Tommy McLean was obviously upset over how things developed.

His after-match summing up was a lesson in brevity.

He said: "The penalty turned the whole game round.

I am very disappointed, and that's all I've got to say."

Taken from the Herald