Stewart shines on debut

Alan Campbell at Tynecastle

IF there weren’t too many positives for Craig Levein in this performance, the contribution of loan signing Michael Stewart gave the Hearts manager every reason to smile. The Manchester United player took only seconds to make an impact, and once match-fit will be a huge influence on the Tyne castle side.
The downside for Levein was a leaden display by his side and first-half hamstring injuries to Mark de Vries and new signing Jamie McAllister. As usual Hearts were well organised, but until Stewart’s arrival in the 47th minute they were also entirely predictable and much work needs to be done to sharpen the attack. Fulham, after losing to Celtic and Rangers and drawing with Partick Thistle, finally beat Scottish opposition courtesy of a goal in each half, but theirs, too, was a typical pre-season effort and a 0-0 draw would have been the appropriate result.

Stewart, with his red hair, was a beacon for the Hearts supporters among whom he used to sit as a boy. His former Manchester United team-mate, Andy Cole, said: “You saw when he came on what he can do for Hearts. He knitted the midfield together. He’s got bags of talent and it’s unfortunate things didn’t work out for him at Old Trafford.

“You’ll have to ask the man-ager why, but there are a lot of good midfielders there and they’ve just sold Nicky Butt.”

Levein, Stewart’s new manager, was delighted. “I thought for the first 20 minutes after he came on he was different class, but he hasn’t played many games. There’s no doubt when we get him 100% fit he’s going to be an asset for us.”

Stewart himself admitted: “After 20 minutes I hit a brick wall but it’s nothing a couple of matches won’t sort out.

“I haven’t played a competitive game since Christmas, but the worst thing was missing out on the pre-season. There’s an under-21 game coming up in midweek, so I’ll speak to the manager and try to get involved in that.”

Hearts lined up pretty much as expected, with the exception of Christophe Berra who replaced the injured Andy Webster. Fulham, with Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on the bench for the first half, opted for a formation which left Cole on his own up front but supported when necessary by wide midfielders Collins John and Darren Pratley.

Although giant defender Zat Knight scored with a downward header from Claus Jensen’s corner in only the fourth minute, the first half was notable only for its almost complete lack of incident. Neither goalkeeper was really tested, and the focus for the home supporters was on the performances of new signings McAllister and Ramon Pereira.

The former, whose career had stalled at Aberdeen before being revived at Livingston last season, looked tentative in his new surroundings but had barely had the chance to settle down before he limped off in the 25th minute. Pereira, though, looked lively down the middle and twice came close to scoring, first with a turn and shot in the box, and later with a header which found the net but was ruled offside.

Hearts were forced to make a second early substitution when De Vries, whose pre season has been hampered by injury, felt his hamstring tighten and left the field nine minutes from the interval. The Dutchman is likely to miss Saturday’s visit to Dundee, but in any event looked well off the pace.

Changes were made by both sides at half time, and Hearts supporters only had to wait a further two minutes before Stewart was given the red carpet treatment when he came on for Berra. The loudest cheer of the day was quickly reciprocated; within a couple of minutes he was running the midfield .

The new acquisition demanded the ball from his new team-mates and used it intelligently, as well as putting in a power of work between both penalty boxes. Once he finds his sharpness, Hearts will have themselves a bargain.

Fulham doubled their lead in the 76th minute when former Everton striker Thomas Rad- zinski rolled the ball along the Hearts 18-yard line for the languid Cole to strike home .

The home side were awarded a penalty in the final minute when Graham Weir was stopped from poking the ball over the line by Ian Pearce, but although Steven Pressley struck the ball well, Van der Sar, who came on for Mark Crossley at the start of the second half, made a fine diving save before John Rowbotham mercifully blew his whistle to end the proceedings.

01 August 2004

Taken from the Sunday Herald