Stewart cameo has Hearts Ful of hope for new season

PAUL KIDDIE AT TYNECASTLE

THE loudest cheer during Fulham’s visit to Tynecastle came with the introduction of Hearts’ new signing Michael Stewart as a second-half substitute - and if the loan star’s contribution is anything to go by, it will not be the last time the Gorgie faithful pay homage to the midfielder this season.

The clash against the Londoners was the Jambos’ one and only home game ahead of the forthcoming SPL kick-off and it was given extra significance with the surprise arrival of Stewart from Manchester United, the 23-year-old having taken the unusual step of partly paying for the move himself to his boyhood heroes.

Despite this, a disappointing crowd of just 6457 - 150 Fulham fans were inside Tynecastle - turned up on a balmy afternoon in the Capital to watch the visitors win 2-0, and those who stayed away missed a display from the Scottish internationalist which suggests Craig Levein’s signing will prove another piece of shrewd business.

Introduced for Christophe Berra - the youngster played with both Andy Webster and Kevin McKenna injured - two minutes after the interval and with his side already trailing to Zat Knight’s fourth-minute header from Claus Jensen’s corner, Stewart was quickly into the thick of the action and always keen to get on the ball.

He created a good shooting chance for himself in the 56th minute after playing a 1-2 with Phil Stamp, his shot rising too high to trouble substitute keeper Edwin Van Der Sar.

Minutes later and there was the ideal demonstration of his renewed appetite for the game.

He first tried to launch an attack only for the move to break down on the edge of the visitors’ box and then popped up in his own penalty box to help snuff out a threatening Fulham move as Chris Coleman’s outfit hit on the break. With his last full game coming away back around Christmas time, Stewart’s influence on proceedings understandably began to diminish as the second half wore on, the midfielder admitting he had "hit a brick wall" after 20 minutes of his first outing at Tynecastle.

There can be no doubting the lifelong Jambo’s potential, though, and Levein will be hoping to reap significant benefit from his year-long stay in Gorgie.

"Michael hasn’t played many games and I think it showed," said the Hearts boss.

"There is no doubt, though, that once he is 100 per cent fit, he will be a big asset for us. For 20 minutes on Saturday I thought he was different class."

The player, whose big day was watched by family and friends, is confident he won’t take long to find top gear for his new club.

He said: "With a couple more games under my belt and some hard training I should be there or thereabouts.

"I know what I am capable of and I am sure I will warm to the fans and they will be happy with what they are given."

Stewart’s cameo failed to prevent Hearts from going down 2-0 to the men from the Premiership, Andy Cole completing the victory with his well-taken goal 14 minutes from time.

The hosts played some neat football at times on Saturday and kept possession well in phases but a lack of penetration up front meant they were always going to be up against it.

The enforced first-half departures of the injured Jamie McAllister and Mark de Vries, who had started a match with Ramon Pereira as his strike partner for the first time, didn’t help matters.

Graham Weir replaced the giant Dutchman but try as they might, Hearts created little to threaten the Fulham goal.

The Spaniard, though, as against Ross County in Dingwall on Tuesday, showed in glimpses that he could prove to be a real thorn in the flesh of SPL defences this season.

He should have won a penalty in the 31st minute when Ian Pearce barged him off the ball as he charged onto a pass from De Vries, referee John Rowbotham ignoring Hearts’ loud appeals.

And four minutes later the former Raith Rovers front man carved out the Jambos’ best chance when his superb turn and shot appeared destined for the top corner until Mark Crossley threw himself to his left to produce a brilliant one-handed save.

Pereira did have the ball in the back of the net as the interval approached when he headed home a Robbie Neilson cross but an offside flag curtailed his celebrations.

Once Canadian internationalist Thomas Radzinski had set up Cole for his first goal since returning to Fulham in the 76th minute there was no way back for Hearts.

But they did have the opportunity of a consolation goal in the last minute after Weir was sent tumbling by Pearce after rounding Van der Sar.

After a brief delay as Rowbotham lectured Knight for his outspoken protests, Steven Pressley strode forward to take the spot-kick but the giant Dutch keeper flung himself to his left to make a fine save, the miss just about summing up Hearts’ afternoon. The skipper, though, remained upbeat despite the first defeat of Hearts’ pre-season and insisted the team will be ready for Saturday’s trip to Dens Park and the league opener against Dundee.

"I don’t think the result was a fair reflection on the game," he said. "I thought we defended reasonably well as a team but we have got to be more clinical in front of goal.

"We will work on that in training and hopefully we will be ready for Saturday. That is the acid test for us.

"But we showed against Fulham that we are getting fitter and sharper and I’m sure we’ll be ready for Dens.

"It is important that we get off to a good start in the league. We have a young team here but I am confident that not only can we match what we did last season, but do even better."

Hearts: Gordon (Moilanen, 45), Maybury, Pressley, Berra (Stewart 47), McAllister (Neilson 28), Stamp (Simmons 78), Hartley, Kisnorbo, Hamill (Janczyk 78), De Vries (Weir 36), Pereira (Wyness 72). Subs not used: MacFarlane, Sloan.

Fulham: Crossley (Van De Sar 45), Volz (Leacock 85), Bonnissel (Green 45), Pearce, Legwinski (Rosenoir 85), Knight, Rehman, Jensen (Radzinski, 45), Cole (Bocanegra 78), John, Pratley (McKinlay 66). Subs not used: Goma, Pembridge, McBride.

Referee: John Rowbotham.

Taken from the Scotsman