Hearts need to hit the heights

IAN PAUL

8 Jan 1996

Partick Thistle 0, Hearts 1

PERHAPS it is as well that the news that these two teams are to meet again in the cup was not available while they went about their business at Firhill.

The prospect of watching them again so soon was a bit like being forced to see two EastEnders' episodes in a row, especially if they repeated their first half showing.

Fortunately, the conviction that the second half simply had to be an improvement turned out to be the case and the misery of the opening period was at least partially erased.

From Thistle's point of view, however, the first 45 minutes was their chance to put Hearts out of the contest.

They were the better side then and might have taken a couple of goals into the interval, especially if Ian Cameron had been a bit more fortunate.

They were never in the same ascendancy after the break when Hearts, after a serious roasting from their manager, Jim Jefferies, rose from their lethargy to have a go at winning the points.

Even so, it needed a defender, scoring for the first time for the first team, to secure the victory and that only in the last minute.

Allan McManus, the 21-year-old who refused a free transfer from previous manager Tommy McLean in the summer, headed a brave winner which was probably just about right overall.

He hurt his arm in the process but, not suprisingly, was not complaining.

"When I was offered the free transfer I decided to stay and fight for my place," said the young hero, "and we got a new manager who has given me my chance.

I know that Dave McPherson will soon be back but I can only play as well as I can and hope the manager will let me keep my place." He certainly did his cause no harm apart from the goal he scored.

Strong and mobile, McManus dominated his central defensive area, giving Thistle's new boy, Nicky Henderson, little chance to impress on his debut.

The other Hearts man to catch the eye, but in different ways, was Alan Johnston.

His first half display had us finding it hard to believe that this was the same young man who had promised to be one of the exciting players of the season.

In the second half, he seemed to get his boots on the right feet and took charge of the attacking ploys, to such effect that he really was by far the top player of the period.

Jefferies offered an explanation: "I was about to take him off after 10 minutes of the second half but then he started doing things.

I told him at half time that he could not wait for things to happen; it was up to him to make them happen." The Hearts manager did not think much of the first half, particularly his own team's attempts.

"We did not make four passes.

The other thing was that we had two small men up front yet we were pumping high balls into the box.

Why?" Jefferies was satisfied in the end but, if he has to conjure up this kind of transformation more often, he may find it comes too late.

At least his defence stood firm and the front line will be improved by the return of John Robertson, who managed to come on in the late stages despite being unwell.

The absence of a tall striker may remain a problem, none the less, if Jefferies does not consider Hans Eskilsson has the right attitude for the job.

The manager "rested" the Swedish player after much controversy following the chance he missed against Hibs in the New Year's Day derby, but the reason he was signed remains as valid now as it did then.

The preponderance of attackers of medium height is inclined to make the side predictable.

Thistle, on the other hand, have more immediate worries.

Steve Welsh, Stephen Docherty and Derek McWilliams were all injured and, according to manager Murdo MacLeod, are doubtful for the game with Falkirk at Firhill tomorrow.

Added to his already considerable list of absentees, their failure to make it would be close to catastrophic for the manager.

But, then, that's when the old Jags invariably rise to the occasion

Taken from the Herald