Webster steps in to take up Pressley's lead role

BY PAUL KIDDIE AT TYNECASTLE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein said he needed someone to conduct the orchestra against Dundee United on Saturday in the absence of skipper Steven Pressley - and the performance of Andy Webster must have been music to his ears.

The captain had been ruled out of the clash with an ankle injury picked up in the dying moments of Scotland’s 1-0 defeat in their Euro 2004 qualifier in Lithuania, the centre-half’s absence seeing the Jambos shorn of his leadership skills at the back for their first league game in four weeks.

With the experienced Stephane Mahe also missing due to a long-standing Achilles problem and Robbie Neilson playing his first top-team game for 18 months with Alan Maybury suspended, Levein could have been forgiven for feeling anxious as to the ability of his defence to cope with the threat of United.

However, the back four, with Kevin McKenna and Austin McCann the elder statesmen at 23 years of age, turned in a display which allowed Ian McCall’s side just four efforts at goal during the entire 90 minutes.

The visitors’ inability to cause their hosts many problems was due in no small part to the towering performance of Webster, the centre-half brought to Tynecastle from Arbroath by Levein less than two years ago.

The 20-year-old has grown in stature with almost every game and having made his debut for the Scotland Under-21s in the recent match against Iceland at Broadwood Stadium, Saturday saw him produce his finest afternoon in a maroon jersey.

Levein splashed out in the region of £75,000 for the Dundee-born defender and the Hearts boss may find it difficult to make a more shrewd purchase.

From as early as the third minute, Webster proved he meant business, Russell Latapy and Charlie Miller both feeling the force of two early crunching tackles. At times it appeared as if Webster had pockets in his shorts, as that is exactly where he had Miller throughout the game.

The Tannadice star was forced into a striking role due to United’s injury situation but how he must have been sick of the attentions of his marker by the time Iain Brines’ final whistle brought an end to what was a hard-fought 2-1 triumph for the home side.

It was the all-round aspect of Webster’s man-of-the-match performance which impressed the most.

Not only was he sharp in the tackle but his reading of the game was excellent and he wasn’t afraid to take a leaf out of Pressley’s book and bark at his fellow-defenders if they had moved out of position - McCann was just one who received a severe ear-bashing as the left-back ventured too far forward late in the game.

Nearside linesman Stuart Logan also didn’t escape Webster’s wrath, the youngster quick to let him know what he thought of an offside decision which wasn’t given in the second half.

How his skipper Pressley and Scotland boss Berti Vogts - both watching from the stand - must have been impressed.

It had looked for long spells, though, that Webster’s contribution would count for nothing with United having gone in at half-time leading thanks to Danny Griffin’s memorable 39th-minute strike.

Miller had used all his experience to win a free-kick under pressure from Webster some 25 yards from goal, and when the ball was tapped to Griffin he sent a wonderful curling shot round the defensive wall and past the despairing full-length dive of Tepi Moilanen.

It was the Tangerines’ first effort at goal and their only one on target but rocked the Jambos who themselves had managed to carve out just a couple of half chances, shots from Scott Severin and Jean-Louis Valois their best efforts.

Hearts had gone into the match three points ahead of Kilmarnock in the race for third place but the Jambos’ lead looked in danger of being wiped out with Jim Jefferies’ men well on their way to a stunning 6-2 hammering of Hibs at Rugby Park.

However, just when it appeared United would thrust a spoke into Hearts’ European aspirations, fortunes in the Tynecastle match swung dramatically.

The turning point came with Levein’s double substitution in the 62nd minute, Andy Kirk and Steven Boyack replacing Gary Wales and Scott Severin respectively.

With Boyack wide right and Phil Stamp shifted into a more central midfield role, the hosts looked altogether more threatening.

A minute after coming on, Kirk saw a shot saved by Paul Gallacher and with 69 minutes on the clock, the game was level.

And it was fitting that it was Webster who dragged his side back into the match. Neil Janczyk, who celebrates his 20th birthday today, played a pass into the box, Mark de Vries’ step-over allowed the defender the space he needed and he bravely finished off in style as Paul Gallacher came out to challenge.

It was the defender’s first goal at Tynecastle and set the foundations for a rousing finale from the hosts. Gallacher tipped over from Boyack two minutes later after more good work from Janczyk on his first SPL start before De Vries shot over after a good turn.

It was one-way traffic now and with 12 minutes remaining, Kirk bagged the second the fans had been craving.

Boyack found De Vries in the box, the Dutchman’s flick fell to Stuart Duff whose attempted clearance found Kirk and the Northern Ireland striker stroked the ball home from close range to keep the Jambos on track for Europe.

"I thought we showed great character, spirit and a desire to win the game which we certainly needed," said Levein.

"United scored a wonder goal but I thought we were unlucky to be behind.

"Although there wasn’t a lot in it, I thought we were the better team in the first half and we played well in the second half.

"I thought Andy Webster had a smashing game. We had a young back four and he stepped forward on Saturday. He was very vocal and that was important. We needed someone to conduct the orchestra and he did that for us at the back."

Webster made his debut for the under-21s having initially been the shock inclusion in Berti Vogts’ senior squad for the Euro 2004 qualifying double header against Iceland and Lithuania.

Rainer Bonhof had requested his release due to his own pool being depleted by injury, the Gorgie star going on to play 90 minutes in both games.

If Saturday’s display is anything to go by, then Webster should not have to wait too long to before he realises his dream of a first full Scotland cap.

Taken from the Scotsman