Hearts enjoy seamless transition

JIM KEAN
AT TYNECASTLE

Hearts 3 Wyness (11), Pereira (46), Hartley (56 pen)
Dunfermline 0

Referee: J Underhill. Attendance: 10,084

AS STRONG as the urge will be to play with their new toy when they do finally get it unwrapped, Vladimir Romanov and Anatoly Byshovets might do well to resist all such temptation and instead bear in mind the advice given when something isn’t broken.

If, as was alleged, the latter really was unhappy with some aspects of Hearts’ display in Basel, he’d have been spitting blood at their performance here because not only did they win, they didn’t give the visitors a look-in.

The Fifers headed across the Forth Bridge with a team more or less cobbled together by Davie Hay from the small band of players illness, injury and suspension hadn’t robbed him of, so for all that the task was easier than it might have been, you can only beat what’s put in front of you. Something Hearts managed to do rather stylishly.

Changing managers in mid-stream is frequently the catalyst for upheaval, but any fears that Craig Levein’s departure to Leicester would lead to the unravelling of all the good work achieved during his reign appear to be unfounded as John Robertson has slipped effortlessly into the seat vacated by his former team-mate.

It’s basically still the same bunch of players on view but Robertson has tinkered with the roles of one or two of them and tweaked the system to good effect, and while it will take time for him and Donald Park to truly put their mark on things, the early signs are encouraging.

Patience is a virtue for anyone watching Robertson’s side because nothing is done in a wham, bam, thank you ma’am fashion. From Craig Gordon out, the game plan is crystal clear.

"We want to pass the ball about and the quality of football we produced was a delight," admitted JR, whose summing-up of the 90 minutes as "a good day’s work" was a hard one to pick holes in.

His team scored three but it could have been four, or more, with the rejuvenated Dennis Wyness setting Hearts on their way with a close-in header from a cross by the impressive Joe Hamill.

Wyness more than anyone has been transformed by the arrival of his new manager and that the striker has now wormed his way into the affection of the fans was confirmed by the stirring little ditty of acclaim that greeted him as he left the field to be replaced by Graham Weir.

Praise doesn’t come much higher than "he used to be s***e, but now he’s alright".

By that stage, it was little more than a case of seeing how many the home side would get, Ramon Pereira having put them two up with a blistering effort just after the break and new Scotland coach Walter Smith seeing Paul Hartley net from the spot on what, given the high standards he’s set recently, was one of the midfielder’s quieter afternoons.

Not so Hamill, who relished being much more involved in the action from his engine-room spot than was the case when he was used as a winger.

"He is a guy who likes to take people on, shoot and cross and that is what he did today," explained his manager. "We want our players to have a real go in the last third and when you have players of the ability of Joe and Paul Hartley, that is the way to play."

While his counterpart was down to the bare bones in terms of personnel, Robertson could afford himself the luxury of mixing and matching things in the second half, although his decision to give Phil Stamp a run backfired somewhat when he had to be stretchered off with an ankle injury, the full extent of which remains to be seen.

Michael Stewart fared better in the 20 minutes or so he was given, with the on-loan Manchester United midfielder using his cameo appearance to stake a claim for a more pivotal role than he has enjoyed thus far in his Gorgie career.

"We’ve had a good long chat with Michael but he is not here on trial. He is here to show he can play and I think we’re beginning to see the best of him. He is everything you would want in a player," added Robertson, whose only minor crib about the "contest" was his team’s slackness in front of goal.

De Vries might have had another three himself, Andy Webster was denied by Derek Stillie from close range and Pereira, who later confirmed his desire to remain at Hearts when his contract expires at the end of the season, could have had at least one more, although Hearts won’t be too miffed if their only problem from here on in is scoring just three times.

That’s a headache Hay and his wafer-thin squad would relish having and, in the circumstances, the Pars probably fared as well as they were entitled to.

"We did the best we could but Hearts were just too good on the day," said Gary Dempsey, one of those forced into action earlier than ideal on his return from injury. "We’re back in the dog fight but I’ve no doubt we have the players to pull us out of it."

A few more of them wouldn’t go amiss however, so come the January sales, expect Hay to shop until he drops.

Or at least until his transfer kitty runs out, whichever comes sooner.

Taken from the Scotsman