Hearts 3-2 Dundee United

Alan Campbell at Tynecastle

IN a game in which both sides paraded new strikers, Paul Hartley’s 12th goal of the season from midfield secured the three points for Hearts. The former Hibs player’s contribution in Gorgie has been invaluable, but United manager Ian McCall was entitled to be crestfallen after his side’s good display again went unrewarded.

McCall felt that referee Mike Ritchie erred badly in giving Hartley his 86th-minute opportunity, claiming Paul Ritchie hadn’t fouled Stephen Simmons for the fatal free-kick. Significantly, Hearts’ manager John Robertson for once didn’t argue the point.

Exactly a week after his 31st birthday, Stevie Crawford made his United debut, partnering Jim McIntyre up front. The Scotland striker’s contract is understood to be worth a basic £1m over the next three-and-a-half years, and he looked eager to resume his playing career in Scotland after a six-month stint down south with Plymouth.

Hearts’ new frontman, Lee Miller, who is 10 years younger than Crawford, was left on the bench as John Robertson chose to start with converted centre-half Kevin McKenna and the Spaniard, Ramon Pereira. But more of Miller later.

After only five minutes, by which time McKenna had had a header saved by Tony Bullock, there was a fantastic opportunity for Crawford to open his account for his new side.

Grant Brebner got the better of Phil Stamp, rolling him before slotting the ball into the path of Crawford who, inside the box had only Craig Gordon to beat. Wrongly, the former Dunfermline player took an extra touch and his shot was blocked by the Hearts goalkeeper.

That wouldn’t have amused the Tannadice accountants, far less McCall, but Crawford, with his tireless runs and closing down of defenders, didn’t let the miss knock him out of his stride. His presence seemed to invigorate the rest of the team, whose energy levels brought them control of the midfield against a disjointed home side.

Deservedly, United went ahead in the 19th minute. Hartley, returning from suspension, pushed Derek McInnes outside the Hearts box and Barry Robson’s powerful free-kick took a deflection before the ball rushed into the top right-hand corner of the net.

With Pereira and the Hearts midfielders being repeatedly dispossessed, United cont-inued to look the sharper and more fluid side, although Hearts did have their moments, with McKenna and Hartley having decent efforts to equalise.

Even so, it was going to take a little more inspiration to lift Robertson’s side, and with the first half winding down it was duly provided by two of his international players.

First up was Gordon. With seven minutes remaining until half-time, United full-back Mark Wilson whipped an inviting low cross into the Hearts box, which was met perfectly by Robson. The winger’s first-time flick looked a like a certain goal until the Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper swooped low to make a brilliant save.

United could have con- ceivably been three ahead before Tynecastle skipper, Steven Pressley, again came to his side’s rescue. With two minutes of the half remaining. Pereira, who was otherwise having a pretty wretched afternoon, won a corner which Stamp took, and Pressley appeared at the far post to slot the ball into the net. Robertson had seen enough of his makeshift strikeforce and sent Miller on for his debut at the start of the second half.

The former Falkirk man’s 18-month soujourn at Bristol City was latterly an unhappy one, and his last goal for the club was scored against Grimsby in February.

Yet, although he is only on loan at Hearts, it took him just three minutes to find the net for his new club. McKenna crossed from the left, and when Pereira got a boot on it the ball would probably have crossed the line anyway. Miller, standing behind him, made sure.

If both you and I could have scored that one, United’s equaliser five minutes later was exceptional. Robbie Neilson was penalised for a high foot against Robson. After the first goal, the Hearts defence were taken totally by surprise when Wilson slid the ball across, and backwards, to left-back Alan Archibald. The former Partick Thistle defender measured his first-time shot perfectly, sending in a 30-yard screamer which Gordon didn’t see until he looked behind him as the net bulged.

Despite the goal, and a later fine 25-yard effort by Mark Kerr which Gordon tipped round for a corner, Hearts, urged forward by Pressley were finishing the game much more strongly.

United introduced Lee Mair, yet another player returning home from the lower English flights, in the 64th minute but the visiting side’s fate was sealed four minutes from the end when Hartley’s contentious free-kick, like Robson’s before, took a deflection for the winner.

The win was testament to Hearts’ resilience but a sore one for McCall and United, for whom David McCracken’s 91st-minute header went tantalisingly just over the bar.

16 January 2005

Taken from the Sunday Herald