Wyness is quick to prove Robbo's prophecy

GRAEME CROSER AT RUGBY PARK

ONLY time will tell whether John Robertson’s master-plan for Hearts will generate success but his man-management skills are already bearing fruit.

Dennis Wyness, a player who looked so uncomfortable during his first 18 months in maroon, scored a fine goal to earn Hearts a point at Kilmarnock and justify a massive vote in confidence from his new coach.

Last week, Robertson publicly professed his faith in the striker and claimed he was capable of scoring 20 goals in a season. On Saturday he backed up those words with action.

With the Jambos trailing by a goal and offering little threat up front in a frustrating second half, Wyness must have been worried to see substitutes Mark de Vries and Ramon Pereira on the touchline.

As expected Canadian targetman Kevin McKenna made way for De Vries but rather than execute a straight striker swap for his second switch Robertson took Joe Hamill off and played Pereira just off the front two.

Wyness had been a tidy performer up to that point without appearing too much of a threat in front of goal. That all changed ten minutes after the change when Pereira collected De Vries’s pass down the right and drove a low cross along the six-yard line.

The Aberdonian had to stretch to meet the ball at the far post but his angled left-foot finish was clinical and emphatic. Would the ‘old’ Wyness have scored such a goal? Who knows, but he has obviously been nourished by the confidence imbued in him by the manager who coached him during his prolific season at Inverness Caley Thistle.

Robertson said: "I’ve always said that Dennis will score goals. I think he is reacting well to being given his chance and now that he has found his goalscoring touch I think we’ll see him go from strength to strength."

Wyness can only benefit from the manager’s commitment to passing football. Under previous boss Craig Levein the direct approach was favoured with a barrage of long balls fired up to De Vries or McKenna. Wyness looked a square peg in a round hole as he scurried after knock-downs but now the team seems ideally set-up for his style of play.

During the first 15 minutes of Saturday’s match you could hear constant cries of ‘feet’ from the Hearts players as they attempted to mount their attacks in a more considered manner.

In the first minute a slick move involving Patrick Kisnorbo, Paul Hartley, Wyness and Alan Maybury resulted in the latter crossing for McKenna who headed wide. The Canadian and Wyness then both had shots comfortably saved by Alan Combe.

It will, of course, take time for the team to adapt to Robertson’s philosophy and after a promising start it was Killie who took a grip of the game.

The introduction of former Hearts skipper Gary Locke - who replaced the injured Freddy Dindeleux - in midfield helped Jim Jefferies’ side establish a stranglehold on proceedings.

With captain Steven Pressley missing through suspension, Hearts did not look altogether solid at the back but replacement Christophe Berra did make a fine block from Craig Dargo’s left-foot shot.

The home side opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Gary MacDonald showed composure before threading a delayed pass between Robbie Neilson and Andy Webster. Peter Leven drew Craig Gordon before finding the net with the outside of his left foot.

Clearly fired up for the game against his old club, and doubtless out to prove a point after being left on the bench, Locke was an energetic presence in the centre of the park but he might have done better when he collected a pass from Colin Nish and fired a shot straight at Gordon.

Killie had two great chances to put the game beyond Hearts in the second period but first MacDonald fired over from eight yards and then Gordon pulled off an excellent save to turn Allan Johnston’s shot away.

Wyness’ goal revitalised Hearts and with the floating Pereira causing Kilmarnock no end of problems the balance of play tilted again.

The Spaniard came closest when he rattled in a 20-yard shot which Scotland hopeful Combe beat away with Neilson bashing the rebound over the bar.

Wyness might have clinched victory four minutes from the end. Neilson was the provider, launching one of his trademark long throws to the near post. Wyness got the slightest of touches but the contact wasn’t enough to divert the ball into the net.

Maybury then executed an important block to deny Danny Invincibile at the other end but both managers agreed a draw was a fair result.

Jefferies said: "Hearts passed the ball well for the first 15 minutes and it took us a long time to get into our stride.

"Our game went up a level when we scored and we had good chances to add to the lead. I think Craig Gordon had more saves to make than Alan Combe but Hearts scored a good goal to equalise. I thought the ball might be just too quick for Wyness as it came across goal but he did well to finish it."

Robertson was upbeat about taking the point to complete a tough week of away fixtures which yielded victories over Aberdeen and Dunfermline.

He said: "Both teams wanted to win the game and went for it - I think that’s something you don’t see enough of.

"I started with Dennis and Kevin up front because they deserved to keep their places but felt we could do with the change when I brought on Ramon and Mark.

"I thought we controlled the first half passing wise but didn’t really hurt them. Killie took their goal well and but I didn’t think we were getting in behind them enough.

"The change helped us but overall I thought it was a decent point for us from a very decent game."

After four largely successful matches in charge Robertson can now prepare for a belated first game at Tynecastle.

This coming weekend’s SPL clash with Motherwell will mark an emotional homecoming for the former Gorgie goal-grabber and the Hearts fans will flock to the ground in the knowledge their team will at least strive to entertain.

GOALS
Kilmarnock: Leven (31)
Hearts: Wyness (69)

SHOTS ON TARGET
Kilmarnock: 5
Hearts: 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET
Kilmarnock: 4
Hearts: 7

CORNERS
Kilmarnock: 8
Hearts: 6

OFFSIDES
Kilmarnock: 7
Hearts: 3

FOULS AGAINST
Kilmarnock: 23
Hearts: 16

BOOKINGS
Kilmarnock: Greer, Nish, Dargo, Fowler

ATTENDANCE
6129

NEXT MATCH
v Motherwell (h), SPL, Sat (kick-off 3pm)

CROSER'S STAR MAN
JAMIE McALLISTER has emerged as a real asset for Hearts on the left flank and his athleticism and ability to pick out a pass or deliver a dead ball were key features of the Jambos’ play. Hearts originally recruited the 26-year-old from Livingston to play as a full-back, but his present role on the left side of midfield better suits his attacking instincts.

FAN'S VERDICT
Craig Gordon:7
Robbie Neilson: 6
Christophe Berra: 6
Andy Webster: 6
Alan Maybury: 7
Joe Hamill: 5
Patrick Kisnorbo: 6
Paul Hartley: 8
Jamie McAllister: 6
Kevin McKenna: 5
Dennis Wyness: 7

SUBS
Ramon Pereira: 7
Mark De Vries: 6

TEAM LINE-UP
Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Greer, Dindeleux (Locke 16), Ford, MacDonald, Leven, Johnston (Fowler 76), Nish, Dargo (Wales 73), Invincibile. Subs not used: Smith, Hay, Murray, Naismith.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Berra, Webster, Maybury, Hamill (Pereira 59), Kisnorbo, Hartley, McAllister, McKenna (De Vries 59), Wyness. Subs not used: Moilanen, MacFarlane, Janczyk, Stewart, Weir.

THE SUPPORTER'S VIEW
Neil Storrar, Gorgie "We showed great character to get a draw. A decent result to end a great week."

Martin Blackman, Corstorphine "An entertaining game with a lot of chances for both sides. A fair result."

Bill Cummings, Riccarton: "It was good to see Wyness looking so sharp. Another good away result for us. Pereira and De Vries made a huge difference when they came on. They will be an exciting partnership for us."

Peter Donnelly, Leith "A decent result for Hearts. We seemed a bit jaded in the first half but were much better in the second half."

Jim Donaldson, The Inch: "A hard-working performance. We really missed Pressley’s influence in defence. A good point at a difficult place to come to."

Jim Brown, Gorgie: "I’m happy with a point. Robbo’s has started well and I am confident for the future."

REF WATCH
CALUM MURRAY took a fair amount of stick from the crowd, with the home fans particularly critical. However, he handled the game sensibly and each of Killie’s four bookings was deserved.

TOP SHOT
PETER LEVEN kept a cool head to draw Hearts keeper Craig Gordon and clip the ball into the net with the outside of his foot.

TOP SAVE

AS Kilmarnock pressed for a second goal, CRAIG GORDON had to be at his best to push away Allan Johnston’s shot and keep Hearts in the game.

Taken from the Scotsman