Fulham finishing spoils Stewart homecoming

EWAN MURRAY
AT TYNECASTLE

Hearts 0
Fulham 2 Knight (3), Cole (76)

AS FESTIVAL time looms large once again in Edinburgh, Tynecastle’s football luvvies were treated to more of a preview than a full version of the highly anticipated Michael Stewart Show.

Stewart’s much-heralded arrival on a season’s loan from Manchester United was clearly the main talking point in the home stands, and the Edinburgh youngster received the kind of ovation only reserved for the best of performers when he entered the field after 47 minutes of this match. After visibly lifting the crowd, the midfield player went on to control his area of the field for a short spell, before his lack of match fitness became apparent.

"I thought for 20 minutes he was different class," said Stewart’s new manager, Craig Levein, "and for that spell we dominated the midfield, but he obviously tired after that due to his lack of competitive action so far. Once we get him fully fit, though, I think it’s clear that we have a real talent on our hands."

Stewart and his Hearts team-mates were upstaged by a Fulham team who capitalised on their only real chances of the game. Zat Knight headed past the fit-again Craig Gordon for the opener after just four minutes, whilst a clinical Andy Cole finish sealed the victory 14 minutes from time, marking the striker’s first goal since his summer move from Blackburn Rovers.

It was a welcome victory and clean sheet for the London side, after defeats against both halves of the Old Firm and a midweek draw with Partick Thistle. Their manager, Chris Coleman, was quick to praise the quality of opposition as he seeks to improve on Fulham’s highest ever league finish of ninth in the Premiership from last season.

"It was clear out there that Hearts are a really good team, and for long spells we struggled to get the ball from them." said Coleman, "That’s four tough games we’ve had against Scottish opposition, which is good for us - far better than going to Sweden, for example, and beating teams 8-0."

"We will get a high tempo game against Manchester City in our first Premiership game, and we got a high tempo game today, which is exactly what we wanted," added the Fulham manager, who takes his side to Manchester for their league opener on 14 August.

For Levein, whose captain Steven Pressley had a last-minute penalty brilliantly saved by Edwin van der Sar after Ian Pearce brought down Graham Weir, there was concern over injuries to Mark de Vries and Jamie McAllister. Both players left the field before half-time with hamstring trouble, and are now rated as doubtful for Hearts’ SPL opener at Dens Park on Saturday. "It looks like ten days out for them both, rather than four weeks, that’s the early indications," said Levein.

Already missing Kevin McKenna and Andy Webster through injury, the Hearts manager will be anxious that the majority of his injured players regain fitness in the week ahead.

The withdrawal of De Vries did, however, lead to former Raith striker, Ramon Pereira, exacting a stronger influence on the game - and the versatile Spaniard was unfortunate to have a 43rd-minute headed goal disallowed for offside. Keen to run at defenders, whilst using his undoubted physical attributes, 24-year-old Pereira is another who has already clearly impressed the Hearts support.

In keeping with their last two pre-season games against Airdrie and Ross County, Hearts went on to dominate second half possession without seriously troubling Van der Sar in the Fulham goal. Levein highlighted injuries at different stages in the pre-season campaign to Pereira, De Vries and makeshift striker McKenna as a reason for his side’s lack of cohesion in the final third of the pitch.

"There was a lot of good passing at times, but we’ve not had much time to work fully with our strikers and I think that showed today. Once we get a chance to spend some time on the training ground with Pereira and De Vries, who have both suffered injuries, then I’m sure we’ll start seeing some goals," explained Levein. "The telepathy isn’t quite there yet between our front guys, but we have plenty time to get that right."

If the sum of Hearts’ season is to come from their constituent parts, then Levein is correct in not being overly perturbed by this defeat. His defence, now comprising almost fully of international players, restricted Fulham to very few opportunities and are unlikely to come up against strikers with the conviction of Cole in the SPL.

One glance to the substitute’s bench, where midfielders Simmons, Sloan, Jancyzk and MacFarlane sat alongside Stewart, shows that Levein is more than adequately covered in this area, whilst in attack the gelling together of what are clearly fine individual talents will undoubtedly bring results.

Last word on the day was reserved for local hero Stewart, though, who picked up praise from Cole, a former team-mate at Old Trafford. "I remember him well as being very talented," said the former England international, "and I’m sure he has the hunger and desire to do well at his home town club."

Those Tynecastle luvvies will drink to that.

Hearts: Gordon (Moilanen 46), Maybury, McAllister (Neilson 28), Pressley, Berra (Stewart 47), Kisnorbo, Pereira (Wyness 71), Stamp (Jancyzk 77), De Vries (Weir 36), Hartley, Hamill (Simmons 77).

Fulham: Crossley (Van Der Sar 46), Volz (Leacock 85), Bonnissel (Green 46), Legwinski (Pembridge 85), Pearce, Knight, Rehman, Jensen (Radzinski 46), Cole (Bocinegra 77), John, Pratley (McKinlay 67).

Referee: J Rowbotham. Attendance: 6,457

Taken from the Scotsman