Pereira shows sign of things to come

PAUL KIDDIE
AT VICTORIA PARK

IT was perhaps fitting that, on the day Dingwall played host to a treasure hunt as part of its Gala Week celebrations, Hearts boss Craig Levein demonstrated he may have unearthed another gem of a player.

Injuries to a host of first-team players meant the Gorgie chief had been forced to cope with numerous selection problems ahead of the clash with Ross County, the likes of Mark de Vries, Andy Webster, Kevin McKenna and Craig Gordon all ruled out of the Victoria Park friendly.

But last night’s clash presented new signing Ramon Pereira with his first start for the Tynecastle outfit - and how the Spaniard made the most of his opportunity in the Highlands.

The 25-year-old has been struggling with a shin problem since the start of pre-season training, the injury reducing his role to nothing much more than a spectator recently. But after coming off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Airdrie United, the former Raith Rovers star kept his place for the long trip north.

And he seized his chance with some style, Pereira proving he has the potential to become a real fans’ favourite at Tynecastle in the months ahead.

The front man was the outstanding player last night, at the heart of almost everything attacking which the visitors produced, his touch and vision causing all sorts of problems for Alex Smith’s outfit in what ultimately proved to be a Dingwall deadlock.

He began the match as the strike partner of Graham Weir and by the time he left the pitch to be replaced by Joe Hamill after 73 minutes, the Spanish ace had lead the County back line a merry dance on a number of occasions.

In all likelihood he will come up against better defences in the SPL this season but for a first start for his new club, last night’s display was particularly encouraging - with further improvement likely as he attains proper match sharpness.

"That was Ramon’s first game and it is a matter of him settling in," said Levein afterwards.

"I know what he can do but he showed in touches last night that he is going to be an asset for us. He hasn’t trained an awful lot and has actually missed quite a bit compared to the other lads. Hopefully, though, we can get him as fit as possible and then give him a run in the side."

With last night’s clash County’s last game before they kick-off their season at home to St Mirren in the Bell’s Cup on Saturday, the match was always going to be a well contested affair. But while there were no goals for the crowd to cheer, there was enough goalmouth action and decent football to keep them entertained.

Levein took the opportunity to field a new-look defence with Christophe Berra partnering skipper Steven Pressley in the centre, with Robbie Neilson and Jamie McAllister filling the full-back berths.

The middle of the park saw Neil Janczyk and Patrick Kisnorbo pair up in the centre, with Stephen Simmons lining up on the wide left with Robert Sloan patrolling the other flank.

It was the first division hosts, though, who were first to threaten, Steven McGarry and John Rankin firing in efforts in the first quarter of an hour which Tepi Moilanen had to be alert to deal with. Simmons then shot wide after an excellent move involving Sloan and Pereira before the Spaniard released Sloan on the left and the winger’s cross to the back post was bundled clear with Weir waiting to pounce.

Veteran keeper Stuart Garden denied Weir with his legs in the 34th minute and four minutes later the stocky striker had strong claims for a penalty turned down by referee Mike Ritchie. Pereira sent his team-mate into the box with another slide-rule pass and after shaking off Martin Canning, Weir was sent tumbling by Garden, Ritchie ruling the keeper had got a touch on the ball as the Hearts star attempted to round him.

Pressley and Neilson were replaced at the interval, with Alan Maybury and Neil MacFarlane coming on - the switch seeing Kisnorbo drop back to partner Berra.

With Gordon’s pre-season hampered by a thigh strain, Moilanen has seen the majority of action in the warm-up games and the Finn was called into action again in the 52nd minute when he turned behind Don Cowie’s 20-yard free-kick.

Moments later and the Hearts keeper was again alert to tip Rankin’s effort from distance past the post.

The Jambos responded through Berra, whose header was superbly saved by Garden and then the keeper did even better to keep out McAllister’s powerfully struck free-kick with 20 minutes remaining.

Although substitutes Dennis Wyness and Phil Stamp had decent opportunities in the closing stages, the best chance of the match fell to the hard-working Weir, who netted Saturday’s equaliser against Airdrie United.

With just two minutes remaining the striker did well to turn his marker inside the area before sending a shot cannoning off the right-hand post with Garden beaten, the home keeper completing an impressive display with another good stop from the same player seconds later.

The failure to break down the home rearguard didn’t take the shine off the 90 minutes for Levein, who was understandably pleased with his side’s display.

"Obviously I would have liked to have won the game," he said. "But I thought we passed the ball exceptionally well and created numerous chances. But for some good goalkeeping and better finishing we would have won it."

Ross County: Garden, Robertson, McCulloch, McCunnie, Canning, Lauchlan, Rankin, Cowie, McSwegan (Winters, 78), McGarry (Higgins, 73), Burke (MacKay, 73). Subs not used: Malcolm, Kilgannon.

Hearts: Moilanen, Neilson (Maybury, 45), Pressley (MacFarlane, 45), Berra, McAllister, Sloan (Wyness, 75), Kisnorbo, Janczyk (Hartley, 84), Simmons (Stamp, 78), Weir, Pereira (Hamill, 73). Referee: Mike Ritchie.

Taken from the Scotsman