McGlynn proud of club's Bravehearts

WALTER SMITH celebrated his first win as Scotland manager with victory over Moldova at Hampden Park - and there was more than a hint of maroon about the special occasion.

The Scots battled their way to the three points which were required to keep alive their World Cup qualifying hopes, goals from Christian Dailly and James McFadden enough to appease the Tartan Army.

The foundation of the triumph, though, was made in Gorgie with goalkeeper Craig Gordon ably assisted by defenders Steven Pressley and Andy Webster in repelling the visitors' advances.

With Paul Hartley also earning his second cap after a surprise debut against Italy in the San Siro, there was the rare sight of a quartet of Hearts players starting a Scotland match.

You have to go back over ten years to find the last time the Tynecastle outfit had such a representation.

The visit of Germany to Ibrox on March 24, 1993, in fact, was the last time the Gorgie club supplied so many starters, Craig Levein captaining his country in a 1-0 defeat which also saw keeper Nicky Walker, Alan McLaren and John Robertson pull on the famous dark blue jersey. The sight of so many of his players having key roles in the crucial Group Five clash on Saturday was particularly pleasing for Hearts caretaker boss John McGlynn, who insisted the involvement of the "Tynecastle Four" reflected well on the club as a whole.

He said: "It was great to see four of our guys start a Scotland international.

"To have such representation says a lot for the four of them as well as the club."

Unlike the more experienced Hartley and Pressley, international stardom has come at a relatively early age for Gordon and Webster, the former Arbroath stopper having earned his 15th cap at the National Stadium despite having turned just 23 in April.

Having missed out in Milan with Smith opting for the Pressley-David Weir partnership, it was an unexpected return to the fold for the Hearts central defender.

However, an assured display helped snuff out the Moldovan threat and has kept him in the frame for tomorrow's meeting with Belarus in Minsk.

And McGlynn believes the youngsters will be around the big stage for a considerable time.

"The two centre halves are quality defenders and Craig is a top-class keeper," he said.

"At club level we try to get as many clean sheets as we possibly can and it's all about being mentally prepared.

"If they can create something at a set piece it's a bonus but as defenders it's all about keeping clean sheets and if they can do that, it provides a base for their team-mates to go on and try to win the match.

"Craig Gordon and Andy Webster came on the scene quite early and I think they both have the potential to go on and play at a higher level.

"Playing international football at a young age can only help their game progress and I don't think they are the types of people to get carried away by it."

He added: "They are aware there is competition for places and won't think they have already made it. David Weir coming back onto the Scotland scene has added to the defensive options for Walter Smith and by all accounts Craig only played because of an injury to Rab Douglas.

"There will be competition for the jerseys again next season as well but having had a taste of it they will want to ensure they have some more."

Hartley picked up his second booking in as many matches at the weekend to rule himself out of the trip to Minsk. Smith was quick to leap to the midfielder's defence as was McGlynn. I am sure Paul would have wanted to end his season in Belarus and when you come on the international scene the last thing you want to is get suspended so he will obviously be disappointed," he said.

"But that is the way he plays the game. He is a fully committed players and people who play like that will pick up bookings.

"It's unfortunate for him but hopefully there will be more opportunities in the future."

Hearts were also represented in the Under-21 ranks in the shape of Christophe Berra, although his big week ended in disappointment on Sunday when he was left behind when the squad jetted out to Belarus for tonight's clash having failed to shake off a troublesome ankle injury.

Explaining the defender's withdrawal, McGlynn said: "Christophe met up with the team but it was decided that because of his ankle injury it was better to leave him out of the squad which travelled to Belarus.

"He suffered the initial injury around six weeks ago in a reserve match.

"He then came back against Dunfermline but injured the same ankle in a different way which set him back a couple of weeks.

"He aggravated the problem last week training with Scotland. There is obviously a weakness there and it's not had the chance to get stronger.

"Hopefully he can now use the next few weeks to get over it properly and come back ready to impress a new manager during pre-season."

He added: "He still has a couple of years left at Under-21 level and while he will be disappointed to have missed both these games, time is on his side and he has already shown up well at that level."

Taken from the Scotsman