Cruel way to start a season

Jim Reynolds

3 Aug 1992

MAYBE it's because we all felt -- the players included -- that we had never been away but there was very little that was fresh about the opening-day proceedings at Tynecastle.

It was the kind of match that makes next May, when the curtain is scheduled to come down again, a million light years away.

The really depressing thought is that the Hearts-Celtic fixture has, down through the years, been one of the best and most exciting on the calendar, nothing like the grim and often untidy product we saw on Saturday.

At the end of the day Celtic had much more to celebrate than Hearts and, not surprisingly, they regarded the

1-0 victory as being more important than the quality of performance.

In keeping with the tone of the match, however, was the fact that a milestone -- their hundredth premier-division goal against Hearts -- was delivered by the foot of an opponent.

There appeared little danger when a Paul McStay free kick flashed across the face of goal, but Craig Levein, under pressure from substitute Tommy Coyne and in two minds as to what to do, knocked the ball tamely over his own line.

Said McStay, who denied suggestions that he was under extra pressure after his decision to stay with the club and become a wealthy young man: "I feel sorry for Craig, but I can't deny that I'm delighted we got such a break.

This was a difficult start for us.

"Our style is always to try and play good football but from past experiences we knew we would have to battle at Tynecastle.

I think our determination and will to win was evident and the result should give us confidence for another difficult match, against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday."

McStay was one of the few players to earn pass marks, although he did admit he should have scored after an amazing piece of footwork in the first half which carried him through a crowded Hearts defence.

When faced with only the keeper to beat, however, he shot past.

"I should have put that one away," said the Celtic captain.

Celtic's tactic of playing Chris Morris on the right side of midfield with Tommy Boyd behind him paid off in as much that Tosh McKinlay didn't get forward too often to deliver his dangerous crosses, but overall Hearts can feel aggrieved that they didn't share the points.

They were the more positive side in a first half in which the highlight was the mammoth battle between old pals Tony Mowbray and Ian Baird.

Like ancient gladiators, these two strong men from the North of England were involved in bone-crushing exchanges without a complaint from either.

Mowbray came out on top and his overall performance earned him my vote as Celtic's man of the match.

The big fellow is hardly the most stylish of individuals but is so influential and so effective as a barrier between the opposition and Gordon Marshall in goal.

Another defender, Peter Van de Ven, came out with top marks for Hearts but it wasn't a day which provided the ideal situation for skilful midfield men or strikers in which to shine.

Hearts manager Joe Jordan was perhaps correct in saying that it was cruel to lose the match in such a way.

But the overall show was also a cruel way in which to introduce the fans to a new season.

Things can only get better -- I hope.

Taken from the Herald