Dunfermline's shadow boxers just can't handle the De Vries frame

SIMON PIA AT TYNECASTLE

HEARTS 2 De Vries 41, 81
DUNFERMLINE 1 Tod 11

MANAGEMENT and malapropism go together like ham and eggs and Jimmy Calderwood, whatever else he achieves this year, came out with the classic of the season about ‘getting that monkey of our neck’ after beating Rangers, one which Sir Bobby Robson or the disgraced big Ron Atkinson would have been proud of.

It’s becoming a sack of monkeys now after the victory at Parkhead last week and with the cup final and a place in Europe assured.

But third place was already beyond them as they turned up at Tynecastle yesterday. Technically Hearts were still not assured that position but a goal difference of 17 between them as well as six points with two to play made it a virtual certainty Craig Levein¹s side would claim to be ‘best of the rest’.

This did not dispel Calderwood’s good humour and buoyancy in a season far from finished as he embraced Levein on the touchline before kick-off. He was also far from unhappy at the end as his patchwork team almost matched Hearts. However if there was one thing he could take away from Gorgie it would probably have been Mark de Vries to smuggle him in the hamper for Hampden.

The Hearts striker’s two goals ensured another win that was gained as much by graft, power and application than actually outplaying the opposition with craft or skill. But Hearts have a will to win that others outwith the Old Firm cannot match. It is the most precious quality in football and while they may not play the prettiest of football it is a reflection of Levein’s management on such stretched resources that he has imbued this in his charges.

Meanwhile with Craig Brewster and striking partner Steve Crawford absent, along with Darren Young and Scott Wilson, Calderwood was relying on the possibility of a cup final place inspiring his stand-ins and it almost worked.

It was evident from the kick-off Dunfermline were not here to wish Hearts well on their travels in Europe next season as they pushed up hard, pressing in the challenges with Steven Pressley coming second best in a head clash with Noel Hunt which left the Hearts captain in considerable discomfort for the rest of the half. Twice Pressley had to step over the line for further treatment.

With Hearts already on the back foot it was no surprise then when they went behind after 11 minutes from an Andy Tod header. The East End favourite was in for Scott Wilson in the back three but has always liked to go up for deadball situations and was there when Gary Dempsey swung over a free-kick from the left, climbing unchallenged to head down powerfully past Craig Gordon.

Noel Hunt and Derek Young, albeit lacking Crawford and Brewster¹s guile and penetration, still managed to keep Pressley and Andy Webster pinned back. Meanwhile Hearts were having trouble creating much as Levein had opted for magnum force up front with Kevin Mckenna partnering De Vries.

Ideally crosses from the wing were to be the order of the day but Richie Byrne was keeping such a close watch on Joe Hamill, the midfield player had to switch wings . However that did not work either and he was substituted early in the second half by Graham Weir.

Indeed so ineffectual had the formation been when Weir came on McKenna joined Steven Pressley and Andy Webster in a back three. In the interim, though, they had got an equaliser in the 41st minute courtesy of route one football. They had not looked like breaching Dunfermline defence until then with Tod particularly on form . Twice he made key interceptions, once when De Vries tried to turn inside him from 12 yards and then when McKenna tried to slide the ball through to his striking partner.

But the breakthrough came when fullback Alan Maybury moved up to swing in a long ball and the Dutchman rose above all others to thump in his header.

But it would be unfair to suggest brawn alone is all De Vries has to offer and when McKenna found him on the left in 50th minute his cut-in pass found Paul Hartley racing through a split open Dunfermlien defence. The midfiedler rounded Derek Stillie but Gary Mason cleared on the goaline.

Dunfermline manged to compose themselves and were passing the ball better than Hearts but lacked that cutting edge without Brewster and Crawford. Dempsey did hit the bar in 68 minutes with a 20-yard shot but for all their possession they did little else to unsettle Gordon in goal. But Hearts were not doing much better at the other end.

In the 71st minute substitute Patrick Kisnorbo and Robbie Neilson both lined up to shoot but, on each occasion Lee Bullen was there to block .

However, as so many times this term, De Vries was crucial to Hearts’ success when he turned on the 18-yard-line in 81 minutes to beat Stillie, making it his 15th goal of the season.

Hearts deserve credit for their third-place finish especially because it has been achieved against a background of turmoil at the club. Meanwhile putting a monkey on Dunfermline for the cup would not go amiss on current form and odds.

Hearts: Gordon; Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Maybury; Hamill (Weir 66), Hartley, Severin (Kisnorbo 68) Janczyk (Boyakc 73); De Vreis McKenna

Dunfermline: Stillie; Skerla (La Bonte 66), Shields, Tod; Bullen, Nicolson, Mason, Dempsey, Byrne; D Young Hunt (Kilgannon 87).

Referee: K Toner

Taken from the Scotsman