Hearts stamp their authority on battle for Europe

MIKE AITKEN AT TYNECASTLE

Hearts 3 Severin (45), Wales (49), McKenna (90)
Dunfermline 0

AFTER inflicting on Craig Levein undoubtedly one of the most embarrassing moments of his managerial career against Falkirk the previous week, the Hearts players earned a measure of redemption in the eyes of their young coach with this emphatic victory over Dunfermline.

In stark contrast with that slack performance at Brockville, Hearts looked every inch the third-best side in Scotland thanks to a combination of eager running up front, compact invention in midfield and solid defending.

Apart from a spell late on when the introduction of Noel Hunt, the 19-year-old Irish winger signed by Jimmy Calderwood last week from Shamrock Rovers, caused left-back Stephane Mahe a few problems, Hearts dominated all aspects of what was expected to be a far keener contest between the teams occupying third and fourth spots on Saturday morning in the Premierleague.

Prior to the 1-0 win at Pittodrie last Tuesday, the Edinburgh side had gone through a cathartic spell of losing 13 goals in their four previous games. Moreover, Hearts managed to concede four goals to the opposition in no fewer than three of those encounters.

What Levein concluded was that his side are at their tightest when he pairs Neil MacFarlane with Scott Severin in central midfield. While this sturdy combination, reminiscent of Neale Cooper and Neil Simpson in Aberdeen’s heyday, gives more protection to his central defenders (where Andy Webster figured alongside Steven Pressley), it forced the coach to omit Steven Boyack from his starting line-up and switch Phil Stamp to the right.

The Englishman responded to the adjustment with a swashbuckling performance which helped to win the match and was unfortunate not to be rewarded with a goal. Stamp made two or three killer runs into Dunfermline’s penalty box as well as producing an 18-yard volley in the second half which swept past Derek Stillie only to rebound back into play off the bar.

While the combination of Kevin McKenna and Gary Wales up front was lively enough to give Levein cause for thought about whether or not he should recall Mark de Vries and Andy Kirk should they be fit for tomorrow night’s CIS semi-final against Rangers, it was his midfield players he had to thank for turning pressure into the tangible evidence of a goal before half-time.

As ever, it was Jean-Louis Valois who produced a touch of the unexpected. His inswinging cross floated over the heads of the Dunfermline centre-backs before dropping like a jump-jet into the six-yard box. Severin flung himself at the ball and powered a header past Stillie. Apart from his goal, the Scotland player was another valuable contributor in open play who can expect to face his biggest challenge of the season in attempting to curb Barry Ferguson’s influence at Hampden.

Hearts maintained a high tempo of play against Dunfermline after the interval and increased their lead thanks to astute combination work from the strikers. Alan Maybury’s high ball was flicked on by McKenna and Wales showed admirable composure to steady himself before spotting a gap and passing the ball into the net.

All that remained was for McKenna to add a somewhat fortuitous third goal in injury time when, if truth be told, Hearts were more intent on retaining possession than adding to their tally.

As the versatile Canadian remarked afterwards, though, the positive scoreline in front of their own supporters offered some compensation for the misery of the previous week. "What happened at Brockville was probably the lowest point of my professional career and I think we all wanted to make amends for that performance," he said.

Intriguingly, though, the player who doesn’t care whether the manager picks him as a striker or a defender as long as he’s involved against Rangers tomorrow, wonders if Hearts themselves might take a leaf out of Falkirk’s book and upset the favourites.

Certainly, McKenna knows his club are overdue a win against the Old Firm. "In my time at the club, the best result we’ve managed was a 2-2 draw against Rangers," he recalled. Perhaps modesty prevented the player from issuing a reminder it was his goal on that occasion which helped earn Hearts a point.

Before turning his thoughts to the semi-final, Levein made the point both he and his players were hurting much more than many realised after the Scottish Cup defeat. "But our players can be proud of themselves for the way they’ve responded to that embarrassing set-back," he said. "It was particularly important in front of our own supporters to pass the ball as well as we did and stop Dunfermline."

The Fifers haven’t played in Europe for 34 years and there was nothing in this performance, other than Hunt’s eagerness and Ged Brannan’s tidy debut, to suggest they’ll return to UEFA Cup action any time soon. "We were outfought and outplayed," admitted Jimmy Calderwood. "And we got what we deserved - nothing."

Referee: D McDonald. Attendance: 11,281

Taken from the Scotsman