Mackay's new role fractured

IAN PAUL

9 Nov 1992

HEARTS, the team now leading the chase -- albeit from a distance -- of premier division champions Rangers will take on the surprise side of the season, Partick Thistle, at Firhill tomorrow without the man who has recently hit tremendous form in a role he relishes.

Gary Mackay, whose midfield intelligence has been a feature of the Edinburgh team's play, discovered that he had a fractured cheekbone following the latest derby success over Hibernian at Tynecastle on Saturday and will be absent for about four weeks.

It is a bad blow for the former Scottish internationalist, who was the top Hearts performer against Hibs and in the UEFA Cup tie with Standard Liege in midweek.

"What a game this is," he said.

"Just as I was getting into my best form this happens.

The manager had given me a new role, just behind the front two, against Liege and again against Hibs, and I really enjoyed myself."

The incident which brought the injury happened in the twelfth minute, when Mackay clashed with Hibs' Gordon Hunter.

He recovered after treatment and refused the opportunity to go off until three minutes from the end.

"As the game wore on I got a thumping headache, and after X-rays on Saturday night it turned out to be a fractured cheekbone."

Mackay, who had been named man of the match by the sponsors on Saturday, will go through an operation tomorrow.

It is bad news for manager Joe Jordan, who had been delighted with the display of Mackay and, indeed, all the Hearts players in their 1-0 win over Hibs.

Jordan was entitled to his pride, but Hearts' record in this contest is such that they need only turn up on time.

Not since January, 1989, have Hibs succeeded in beating their city rivals and they rarely looked capable of putting an end to that dismal spell this time around, either.

Neither team made many chances, but overall Hearts were better and worthy of the two points earned by the goal scored by Ian Baird after 17 minutes.

That, and the Ally Mauchlen incident, were the major talking points of an otherwise dreary derby.

Mauchlen had gone down in a tangle with Darren Jackson and when he rose seemed to stamp on the Hibs player's chest.

It was one of those violent actions about which there can be no discussion on the proper sentence, but, astonishingly, referee Hugh Williamson allowed play to progress (Hearts had the advantage) until the ball was knocked over the touchline before booking the Tynecastle player.

That left us all puzzled.

If Mr Williamson had not seen the incident that would have been understandable, as the ball had been cleared upfield by Mauchlen.

But, presumably, as he showed the Hearts man the yellow card he had seen the clash.

But if he saw the incident, why did he not award a free kick to Hibs?

Certainly, Mauchlen should be very grateful to the referee, whose report of the happenings will reach the SFA tomorrow.

That rather spoiled what had been a decent Hearts display, especially when you consider they had returned home in midweek from an exhausting UEFA Cup tie.

They should have been there for the beating this time, but, to their credit, they played with great energy and, under some splendid prompting by Mackay, hoisted themsleves into second place in the premier table.

They still have a lot going for them, not least the desire to get back into Europe.

"They know that they have to apply themselves in the bread-and-butter games to get the chance to show what they can do in Europe again," said Jordan.

"Many teams learn by their regular experience in Europe.

Our lads want to get some more of that, too."

His fellow manager, Alex Miller, found it hard to disguise the disappointment he felt and was fully aware of how it would be taken by the Hibs supporters, many of whom have been remarkably loyal.

"To give away a goal like that was hard to take.

And we hardly troubled their keeper.

It was all very disappointing."

Hibs had begun well and threatened to take control of the game, but it was a short-lived effort and soon they were involved in the contest for midfield, which was to be the main feature of the game.

Taken from the Herald