Robinson's best form of defence is winning side

HEARTS 3-0 KILMARNOCK

MIKE AITKEN
AT TYNECASTLE

ALTHOUGH it’s true a large number of Lothian and Borders police were required to keep order after Saturday’s match, when a protest against the sale of Tynecastle became heated, chief executive Chris Robinson and the directors of Hearts could not have received greater protection from the SAS in recent months than the ring of steel provided by Craig Levein and his players.

While the sense of frustration felt by many supporters and ordinary shareholders at their inability to hold those to account responsible for the financial mismanagement of the club has grown deeper with each treacherous twist on the road to Murrayfield, the resolute performances of an outstanding young manager and a group of committed footballers have acted as a priceless safety valve.

Had Hearts performed on the pitch with the same ineptitude that placed a black hole in their accounts and prompted a plan to sell Tynecastle which alienated the very core of the club’s fan base, it’s safe to speculate Cala would not have needed to bring in the bulldozers: the supporters would cheerfully have dismantled the ground for them.

Instead, Levein and his men have provided a shield for those who have jeopardised the future of a great Scottish institution by soothing the fevered brow of the club’s support.

Thanks to a standard of performance which is consistently impressive, Hearts have overcome budget cuts and the loss of valuable personnel to establish themselves as the third force in the SPL. When your team are easing to a 3-0 victory, common sense suggests it’s much harder to feel angry than watching a defeat unfold.

Yet to concede a goal in the championship, Hearts took their haul to seven points out of a possible nine thanks to another high-tempo display which married a decent amount of craft to an unstinting level of commitment. Solid in defence and busy in midfield, what distinguished this success was the improved contributions of the strikers.

During the enforced absence of Mark de Vries and Kevin McKenna through injury, Hearts have been forced to adapt to life without a big target man. This was easier said than done and Levein was keen for Ramon Pereira, a summer signing from Raith Rovers, to inflict damage on the opposition at the sharp end of the pitch rather than in deeper areas.

That said, the coach also wanted the forward to work hard when the opposition gained possession. Against Kilmarnock, Pereira demonstrated for the first time that he can match flair with self-discipline.

Levein appreciated the striker had individual ability. What he couldn’t know for certain was whether that talent could blend into a team effort. On Saturday there was a strong indication that it might.

Dubbed the ‘divine mullet’ because of his hairstyle, Pereira set up the opening goal for Graham Weir with a cross of such delicacy and precision from the inside-right position that the little forward had the task of picking his spot from ten yards with a well-judged header.

While Hearts were fortunate to go in at the interval with their noses in front - Kilmarnock would rue missing a couple of clear-cut chances - another teasing cross from Joe Hamill ten minutes or so into the second half gave Pereira the opportunity to finish as well as he creates. It was little wonder Steven Pressley, who would convert a penalty after Robbie Neilson was hauled down, sought out the player afterwards.

"I told him in the dressing room that he’d played an important part in the victory," said the Hearts captain. "He’s the kind of player who can go on to become a fans’ favourite."

Not that this was a one-man show by any means. After the jolt to morale which inevitably accompanies being involved with Scotland these days, Pressley shrugged off the malaise which afflicted the loss to Hungary and marshalled Hearts with his usual conviction.

Pressley confessed it was difficult to make the transition from relative success with his club to trying times for his country. The centre-half didn’t have a problem with the sense of bitter disappointment which greeted the latest setback and made it clear broad shoulders were now a necessary qualification for international duty in a dark blue jersey. He, for one, though, was determined to be involved with Scotland again.

On the subject of the proposed sale of Tynecastle and move to Murrayfield, Pressley re-iterated the players would not be drawn on club politics. That said, as a noisy demonstration unfolded outside, the captain said he had no problem with supporters engaging in their democratic right to make their feelings known.

Pressley believes the players’ responsibility starts and finishes with earning results. He argued that an unswerving dedication to that end has maintained the bond between the team and the support. Levein, too, was eloquent on the separation between boardroom and dugout, making the point if either he or his players ever became distracted from football or involved in the stadium debate "then the whole thing collapses - all we can do is try to entertain, win our matches and keep the supporters happy".

As a former Hearts manager, Jim Jefferies had little opportunity to consider the plight of his old club when his current charges paid the price for slack defending and careless finishing. He was clearly concerned a weary effort from striker Kris Boyd, who was substituted in the second half, came about because the player was on duty with Scotland’s Under-21s. Jefferies described travel arrangements for the match in Hungary as "ridiculous". Apparently, the SFA used scheduled flights rather than a charter and the player didn’t arrive home until more than 24 hours after the match.

Taken from the Scotsman