Hartley turns on the style to crush Lions

Hearts midfielder shows why Celtic are chasing his signature as cracker sparks comeback

GRAEME CROSER AT ALMONDVALE

WHERE would Hearts be without Paul Hartley?

With Celtic weighing up a bid for the midfielder, the Tynecastle club may just be on the verge of finding out - but if he does depart before the transfer window shuts on Monday he will go with his head held high after inspiring the perfect smash-and-grab raid at Livingston last night.

Having fallen behind to a Derek Lilley goal and with the clock ticking mercilessly away, the Jambos looked destined for defeat until Hartley’s perseverance won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

The 28-year-old got up and took the free-kick himself, curling a magnificent shot high beyond Roddy McKenzie.

The clock showed 85 minutes and, barely 60 seconds later, the wave of jubilation provided by the equaliser had swept Hearts into the lead through Lee Miller’s close-range header.

The Jambos are developing a canny knack for nicking late goals but last night’s defeat was harsh on a Livingston team who battled bravely on the back of a humiliating defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle at the weekend.

However, the fact is that Richard Gough’s team are rooted to the bottom of the SPL table and are serious candidates for relegation. John Robertson, on the other hand, is now plotting a course for Europe and knows victory over Aberdeen this weekend will catapult his men into fourth place.

He can only keep his fingers crossed that Hartley remains on board for the voyage.

The Scotland Future internationalist did not turn in a vintage display at Almondvale but, crucially, he was prepared to roll his sleeves up and get his teeth into a physical contest.

Ultimately, he was rewarded with the opportunity to take that pivotal free-kick.

Hartley’s goals have been key to Hearts keeping their UEFA Cup qualification Cup hopes alive this term amid a welter of off-field turmoil.

However, Robertson admits he could not stand in the player’s way if an acceptable bid was tabled to take him to the club he supported in childhood.

The Tynecastle boss was able to show a glimpse of what might lie in store for his team with the introduction of second-half substitutes Saulius Mikoliunas and Hjalmar Thorarinsson.

The first, a Lithuanian internationalist recruited through prospective club owner Vladimir Romanov’s links with FBK Kaunas, provided speed and directness on the left flank after replacing Stephen Simmons who, after a bright opening, faded in his first start of the season.

Teenage striker Thorarinsson also looks an exciting prospect and appears to have benefited from an extended spell working with the club’s youth teams after arriving from Icelandic side Throttur earlier in the season.

Both gave Hearts an added kick going forward but it was Hartley who proved the catalyst for the victory.

Livingston took the lead when Burton O’Brien surged from deep before trying to play in Lilley with a chipped pass. Former Lions full-back Jamie McAllister got to the ball first but, apparently with the use of his arm, succeeded only in diverting the ball towards the six-yard area. Lilley pounced gratefully on the opportunity and prodded the ball behind Craig Gordon.

Hearts had enjoyed the bulk of the possession until that point but Livingston had looked resolute in defence with the return from suspension of Rubio bolstering the backline.

However, after taking the lead the home side became jittery and started to concede a flurry of fouls as the game drew to a conclusion.

Craig Easton’s offence barely 20 yards from goal brought a booking from Kenny Clark and also invited Hartley to dust himself down and spark the comeback.

Within a minute Joe Hamill’s right-wing cross had been met by the head of Miller who glanced the ball downwards and into the net to seal the points.

Robertson said: "We knew it would be tough against a Livingston side who battled and scraped in response to their defeat to Inverness at the weekend.

"We had lots of the ball and retained possession well but we just couldn’t capitalise on the three or four chances we made in the first half.

"The two young lads certainly gave us a spark when they came on and then we got a magnificent equaliser from Paul.

"We had a bit of momentum and then Lee scored the winner. Livingston won’t want any sympathy but it was a tough way for them to lose. Paul is priceless to us and I don’t want to sell him.

"We want to keep him and extend his contract but I can understand why he’d be interested in a move to Celtic because he’s a fan."

Gough was left hurting by the defeat, but could take solace from the commitment and organisation of his players.

His team selections have been impossible to predict since he took over and last night he made a staggering six changes to the side which was defeated 4-1 by Inverness.

Roddy McKenzie replaced Colin Meldrum in goal while Stuart Lovell, Gabor Vincze, Goran Stanic, Jim Hamilton and Ferenc Horvath also went out along with the 3-5-2 formation with which the players appeared so uncomfortable at the weekend. Mark Wilson, newly signed on loan from Middlesbrough, Rubio, Jason Dair, Derek Lilley and James McPake all came in and could consider themselves unlucky to lose - although victory would have flattered them.

Gough said: "I’m disappointed for the players. They worked really hard and their attitude was 100 per cent better than it was on Saturday.

"We managed to get ourselves in front, albeit with a little fortune at the goal but then we seemed to lack the tenacity and the confidence to see it through. That can happen when you’re down at the bottom of the league but I didn’t think we deserved to lose.

"Hearts had a lot of pressure but I think a share of the points would have been a fair result.

"We gave them a free-kick in a dangerous area which is something you warn against. But sometimes that happens with lesser players - you can be second to the ball and these things happen."

Taken from the Scotsman