JAGS RUN OFF ROAD

Jan 20 2005

Hearts 2 Partick Thistle 1 It's heartbreak for Bert's brave boys as Wyness grabs last-gasp winner

By Hugh Keevins

PARTICK THISTLE were last night cruelly robbed of an extra half-hour to battle for a place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Dick Campbell's men were heading for extra time - until Hearts hitman Dennis Wyness wrecked their hopes with a last-minute winner.

Thistle had stunned the Jambos on their own Tynecastle backyard when Armand One headed them in front after only eight minutes.

Neil MacFarlane pulled Hearts level in the 34th minute and Wyness brought relief to boss John Robertson with his last-gasp strike.

Yet Thistle still had a chance to square the tie and force extra time but goal hero One turned villain by passing up a header just feet from goal.

Usually there would be a degree of embarrassment about a side of Hearts' calibre being taken to the wire by the team second from bottom in the First Division.

But relief would have been the only emotion Robertson felt as he contemplated a home tie against Kilmarnock that brings the former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies back to Tynecastle.

Cup convention is supposed to dictate that lower division clubs get one chance to eliminate their betters - and that opportunity comes when they have home advantage.

Thistle's historic reputation for upsetting the odds and having no respect for reputation was what they brought to the replay along with the confidence instilled in them by Dick Campbell.

He had shaken life out of his under-achievers to get a draw with the SPL side at Firhill in his first game in charge of the club.

And it didn't take Thistle long to catch Hearts cold and stun a smaller than usual home crowd with an opening goal from Frenchman One.

A corner kick swung under the bar deceived keeper Craig Gordon in the swirling wind and he could only punch the ball on to the woodwork. Giant hitman One reacted quickest to nod the ball over the line from a yard.

Warning signals had been there when Juan Ramon Escalas tried his luck with a free-kick conceded on the edge of the penalty area a minute before One's dramatic intervention.The crowd's dislike for what was going on came to a head when Kevin McKenna dithered in response to an inviting cross from Robbie Nielson and Jean-Yves Anis stooped to head the ball safely back into the arms of Kenny Arthur.

Jambos fans howled their displeasure when Paul Hartley's free-kick gave McKenna a free header which he promptly skied over the bar.

Thistle's manager raged at the award and had to be warned to control his temper by the fourth official.

The referee had to intervene and advise Campbell he was in line for dismissal to the stand only after he had chalked off a goal from Paul Hartley.

The Hearts player was clearly offside and his team's frustration was almost complete when another Derek Fleming corner played in Kenny Milne to threaten Gordon at his near post.

Thistle's intention was to have a go at goal whenever the target came into view.Escalas was optimistic with an angular drive from distance.

They might have ridden their luck at times but the side threatened by relegation to the Second Division had worked for their breaks until they fell victim to a set-piece and lost an equaliser. Wyness headed on Phil Stamp's corner and Neil MacFarlane prodded it in from close range.

It was the midfielder's first goal for the club and could not have arrived at a more opportune moment.

Hearts' difference in tempo immediately after the break suggested a lively dressing-room talking-to from boss Robertson and Hartley twice went close.

Their approach was justified when One forced Gordon to produce an incredible save from a 20-yard shot. The striker required no backlift to propel a ferocious drive that the keeper had to touch over the bar.

The tie was all the better for both sides looking to win in regulation time and even more enjoyable for not knowing which would get it.

Hartley was on a one-man mission to be Hearts' saviour, constantly driving at the Thistle defence and posing them problems.

The game approached the do-or-die stage with challenges becoming keener.

Hearts' solution was to bring on Stephen Simmons and Joe Hamill and remove Ramon Pereira and MacFarlane.

Thistle tempted fate by introducing Steve Fulton, who captained Hearts when they won the Cup against Rangers in 1998, and asking him to replace Andy Dowie and destroy his former club.

It didn't happen. Instead, a long throw--in by Hearts picked out McKenna and his cross coincided with Grant Murray and Adrian Madaschi being caught flat-footed.

That enabled Wyness to control the ball and steady himself before side-footing it in.

It was hard to bear for the defenders who had been outstanding. And their team-mates, who had pushed Hearts all the way, were at least due extra time.

HEARTS - Gordon5,Pressley6,McKenna5,Webster5, Wyness6,Stamp6,Hartley7,McFarlane6(Simmons70,5), Neilson 6, McAllister 5, Pereira 5 (Hamill 70, 6).

PARTICK THISTLE - Arthur 6,Yves-Anis6(A Gibson 70, 5), Milne 6, Murray 6, Madaschi 8, Dowie 6 (Fulton 70, 5), Gibson 5 (Strachan 4), One 7, Escalas 6, Ross 6, Fleming 6.

Referee:C Mackay.