Clark has work to do on Hearts' attack

RAY HEPBURN

11 Oct 1993

HEARTS' manager Sandy Clark, who has a goal-scoring problem, will chat with former Celtic striker Tommy Coyne this afternoon.

John Robertson's single goal against St Johnstone on Saturday was only their second in five games, and Hearts have failed to find the net more than twice in any of their 15 games this season.

And although Clark has also spoken to former Rangers striker Dave Mitchell, Coyne remains the main target after having made the decision to return to Scotland from Tranmere following the death of his wife.

In fairness to the players who were given the responsibility against the Perth team at rain-soaked Tynecastle, they can claim with justification that luck deserted them in the closing half hour.

For it was only after Scott Leitch collected his second booking in 60 minutes, that Hearts began to prise open the St Johnstone defence.

Ian Ferguson rattled the bar with a header and Alan Johnston saw a shot deflected on to a post and then watched in disbelief as the ball cannoned off the inside of the upright and roll along the line to keeper Andy Rhodes.

There was no excuse for John Robertson, however, in 63 minutes, when he directed his penalty far too close to Rhodes, and the big keeper made up for some hairy attempts to deal with cross balls with the save.

He was at fault eight minutes later when Robertson collected his sixth goal of the season, with a typical predator's goal from close in, after Rhodes had dropped one of many crosses looped in by 18-year-old Gary Locke.

The Perth team equalised with just five minutes left, when referee Bill Young misread Alan McLaren's innocent-looking tackle on substitute Kevin McGowne, rewarding his theatrical expertise with a penalty that Paul Wright stuck away.

The final 30 minutes saved a game which until then had failed to ignite.

The treacherous ground conditions, driving rain, and general incompetence of the match official conspired to defeat the players for an hour.

The Clarkston referee appeared to make little allowance for the slippery surface that mitigated against tidy, well-time tackles.

Although Leitch's second foul merited a caution, his first, on Wright, looked weather assisted.

The midfield player's departure galvanised the Edinburgh team and the introduction of Johnston for Justin Fashanu in 56 minutes, also helped their cause.

A wonderfully gifted player, with graceful movement and a touch of pace, the 19-year-old is worth the admission money on his own.

Scotland's Under-21 team must be capable of defeating Italy handsomely this week, if he can be left behind.

St Johnstone, although less effective than Hearts, had their moment but Nicky Walker stood up well to their best work, particularly an agile, one-handed save from Harry Curran, two minutes before the controversial penalty.

McGowne's glide to the ground as he brushed with McLaren was exemplary.

Eight out of 10 for artistic impression.

And the broad smile he wore as he rose, told an illuminating truth.

Taken from the Herald