Wilson's shot in the foot

HEARTS 3-1 DUNDEE UTD

MOIRA GORDON AT TYNECASTLE

THE fans saluted him, proclaiming there is only one Mark Wilson, but unfortunately for the Dundee United right-back, it was the Hearts fans singing. It was the second time this season the young defender had aided the Tynecastle side by putting the ball into his own net on their patch and the minute he buried it beyond Paul Gallacher yesterday, the impetus was handed to the home team.

Just as they had against Celtic at Parkhead last week, Dundee United had foraged and fought in unfriendly territory for much of this match, but again an individual error had changed the outcome in the opposition’s favour.

"I felt we had been on top when Mark scored," said Ian McCall afterwards. "The ball was running out and there was no danger at all, but the players were deflated by that and I don’t think they could believe it had happened. As a result, we were poor in the last 20 minutes. Mark is gutted but he’ll learn from it."

The game had been poised at 1-1 when Wilson intervened, Paul Hartley’s first-half effort being cancelled out by a Jim McIntyre strike early in the second half, but having been handed the lead again, Hearts then went for the kill. A formation re-jig, 10 minutes after that goal, saw them switch from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, moving Kevin McKenna wide on to the right of midfield. And it was a tactical coup as the Canadian got up in support of his strike force, ghosting in at the back post in the 72nd minute to meet an inch-perfect Hartley cross and head it home.

"As soon as Dundee United had scored I think the players knew to lift the tempo but I think we still needed a wee push, so that’s why I changed it," said Levein, who refused to take all the credit. "If Paul Hartley doesn’t slip the pass in and Kevin McKenna doesn’t make the run then it’s not a goal." But it was, and it could have been just one of many if Hearts had taken the chances that then came their way thereafter.

For the remainder of the game, it was pretty much one-way traffic as Hearts sought to extend their lead and ensure the three points which allowed them to widen the gap between them and their challengers for third place in the Premierleague, Dunfermline.

In the build up to the match Craig Levein had insisted that the off-field bitterness and wrangling over the respective merits of Murrayfield and Tynecastle had not affected his players, and it seemed to be the case once again yesterday as they switched off to the fans’ "sack the board" chants and focused on the job in hand.

At least if Hearts do move to Murrayfield it could ease the parking problems experienced yesterday as the home fans, Dundee United supporters and the English and Scottish rugby fraternity all descended on the area. Ground sharing with the SRU would negate any such headache but don’t expect the majority of Hearts fans to thank Chris Robinson. The under-fire chief executive was still the subject of taunts and pleas to go and while the winning feeling led to a more subdued second half, he should be grateful for the presence of Charlie Miller in the opening 45 minutes, as the player opposition fans love to hate deflected the flak away from him for long spells.

While Craig Levein was able to include the influential Steven Pressley and Phil Stamp in his starting XI, after both players managed to shrug off injuries, his opposite number, Ian McCall, was without the suspended Billy Dodds, Chris Innes and Andy McLaren, making the qualities offered up by Miller all the more integral. But while his fleet-footedness can win him countless plaudits it was his determination to see his marker Patrick Kisnorbo booked, the odd dive and his cuteness when inviting challenges in dangerous areas which brought the wrath of the home support down upon him.

In a frenetic and balanced opening spell he played his part in creating space and conjuring up the kind of moves which end in goal-scoring opportunities and until Hearts opened the scoring, they gave as good as they got. Their best chance fell to Jim McIntyre in the 12th minute, prompting a good save from Craig Gordon in the Hearts goal but then Hartley gave them food for thought with his goal. Stabbed through by Stamp, he darted through one-on one with Gallacher before finishing.

Levein thought his players subconsciously switched off slightly at that point and only woke up when McIntyre equalised. It gave United a lift but it was Hearts who built on it and safeguarded their fierce home reputation. It’s one the fans would love to hang on to next season, but if Murrayfield does become a reality, it’s unlikely Wilson will be too saddened to see the back of Tynecastle.

Taken from the Scotsman