Miller fires Hearts' Euro desires

MARK WOODS
AT TYNECASTLE

HEARTS 3
Miller 21; Burchill 66; Neilson 69

LIVINGSTON 1
Dair 45

ACKNOWLEDGING the unseasonably sweltering conditions which left Tynecastle bathed in sunshine yesterday, the canny in-stadium DJ blasted out that Texas-penned ditty Here Comes The Summertime over the tannoy here. It is a touch premature perhaps to break out the Factor 12. Yet this remained an occasion to welcome in the new, the tide of spring and the imminent entrance of new Hearts chief executive Phil Anderton who will take up the reins tomorrow, two months after his untidy departure from that other bastion of the Edinburgh sporting establishment.

Uppermost on Anderton’s to-do list must be how to keep the club’s flourishing striking partnership in situ. It was Lee Miller’s goal which provided the foundation for John Robertson’s team to gain their first league win for a month, a spell which has seen them drift away from the chase for third place. And the strike which ultimately brought Livingston’s surge in fortunes to a close came from Mark Burchill whose initial hesitancy has given way to glimpses of the form which once gained him entry to that long list of unfulfilled Parkhead prodigies.

Without the suspended Paul Hartley to contend with, the visitors briefly gained more control in the midfield than they enjoyed in last month’s Cup quarter-final defeat at Hearts’ hands with Craig Easton and tousle-haired Hungarian Gabor Vincze briskly bounding around in support of the visitors’ largely ineffectual front two. It would not last long. But it was Easton who nearly stole through in the first exchanges, forcing Craig Gordon to break into an early sweat as he dashed out to clear.

Livingston ceded a series of free kicks just outside their own area.

Such situations are Jamie McAllister’s forte and twice within a brief spell, he accepted the duty. From 30 metres, he rifled powerfully past the Livi wall and Roddy McKenzie, seeing the threat late, did well to clutch at his left-hand post. His next attempt was instead predicated on guile, a beautiful inswinging delivery from the right that deserved much better than to finally amble through a crowded box untouched.

When Eric Deloumeaux clumsily fouled Miller in the 21st minute, the designation was changed. The former Falkirk trainee himself lined up a long range attempt and it proved a wise move. His aim was immaculate, lashing inside McKenzie’s upright with maximum force to claim his seventh goal since arriving on loan from Bristol City

Burchill was not to be outdone. Portsmouth’s outcast matched his cohort in industry and initiative and darted shrewdly off the ball. He pinged a fine effort into Gordon’s body before Miller again took his turn to shine, freeing Stephen Simmons with a delicate stroke.

Fading fast, the Premierleague strugglers grew increasingly perplexed in the face of such trickery. Gough’s visage darkened at the sight of his charges threatening perpetual suicide at the back. In tough situations, such as these, there are still times to be clever. Yet at others, there is no shame in a good old-fashioned, unsightly hoof up the park. Repeatedly, opportunities to alleviate the pressure from Hearts were not taken, another hazardous try from Miller bringing Gordon again into active service. And when Vincze instigated a brief scuffle with Neil MacFarlane, it signalled all was not well.

At least, Livingston’s drummer boys were in fine form, hammering away like hyperactive kids let loose in the tool shed. Perhaps Anderton would like to address the relative placidity of the Jambos supporters for good measure? For their industry alone, the small but vociferous band of travelling devotees deserved the equaliser which arrived, surprisingly, just before the interval.

Easton was the instigator, with a piercing header toward Burton O’Brien. Astutely, he eschewed a shot and opted to feed Jason Dair who beat Gordon from eight metres to score his first goal for the West Lothian outfit. Gough was still far from amused. All change up front, he decreed, with James McPake and Colin McMenamin handed the license to catalyse some semblance of an attack.

However, there’s no use creating chances if you can’t finish them. McMenamin swiftly produced a blistering low cross from the right which deceived Gordon. Should Setanta Sports produce one of those compilations of the season’s most embarrassing misses, Easton will turn up for the manner in which he contrived to stand on the ball rather than score.

It proved oh so costly. Galloping upfield, Miller rose to head down into the path of Burchill who calmly smashed past the helpless McKenzie. Three minutes later, the Livi keeper was beaten again. He valiantly got one hand to another potent Miller free kick but his defenders dithered, allowing Robbie Neilson to pounce. Gough, berated all around, was incensed. Oscar Rubio, an unused substitute even managed to get himself booked for his ire. "We want a replay," chanted the Livi fans. Give them credit for their comedic craft but alas for Gough’s side, there remains much graft ahead before the halcyon days of summer finally come around.

Hearts: Gordon, McAllister, Webster, Pressley, Neilson, Simmons (Kizys, 60), Wallace, Cesnauskis, McFarlane (Stewart, 83), Burchill (Weir, 86), Miller. Subs: Berra, Wyness, Hamill, Moilanen.

Livingston: McKenzie, McNamee, Strong, Deloumeaux, Stanic, O’Brien, Vincze, Dair (Lilley, 83), Easton, Horvath (McMenamin, 45), Snodgrass (McPake, 45). Subs: Dorado, Rubio, Brittain, Meldrum.

Referee: K Clark

Taken from the Scotsman