Wallace helps sink Hull then eyes Killie

PAUL KIDDIE
AT KC STADIUM

Hull 0
Hearts 1

LEE WALLACE knows that past exploits will count for nothing this season.

The young defender exploded onto the SPL scene last term after being given his chance by former manager John Robertson.

Handed his debut in the Tennent's Scottish Cup tie against Kilmarnock in February, he quickly established himself as one of the country's rising stars with a string of impressive displays.

Indeed, after making his top-team bow, he was an ever-present apart from a game against Dundee United when he was sidelined by injury. The departure of Robertson, however, meant the left-back was basically forced to start all over again as he set about impressing new boss George Burley. Not that he has minded in the slightest.

Wallace wasn't scheduled to start Saturday's game against Hull City at the KC Stadium but with new signing Rudi Skacel complaining of a hamstring problem during the warm-up, the youngster slotted in at left back at the last minute. He made light of the unexpected reshuffle, producing another assured display, the type of performance which the Gorgie faithful has come to expect from the talented teenager.

Hearts' 1-0 win over Peter Taylor's Championship side was further evidence that Burley's influence is beginning to make an impression, even at such an early stage in his reign.

With the players now primed for the start of the SPL campaign at Rugby Park on Saturday, Wallace, below right, is hoping he has done enough to keep himself in the frame for the season's curtain-raiser at a ground which holds fond memories.

Wallace was a virtual unknown until he smashed one of the goals of the season in front of the television cameras in the Scottish Cup replay against Jim Jefferies' outfit. He has since built on that magnificent display and is determined to further enhance his growing reputation under the astute leadership of Burley. "With a bit of luck I'll be involved on Saturday," said Wallace, who signed a new three-year deal in the summer.

"My first three games for Hearts were actually all against Kilmarnock. I scored my first goal for the club at Rugby Park so I'm obviously looking forward to going back there.

"If selected I will try to do my best and do what I've been taught and try to keep things simple. The aim has to get back to where I was last season but I have to put all that behind me and just concentrate on the campaign ahead.

"It all happened very quickly for me and to be honest it came as quite a shock to begin with. I've tried to keep my feet on the ground and never think too highly of myself. I've signed a new three-year contract and it's up to me to try to get better and better."

Edgaras Jankauskas' 23rd-minute tap-in was enough to give Hearts the spoils in east Yorkshire, the deserved win maintaining their unbeaten build-up to the new season.

The powerful Lithuanian striker is poised to make his debut in Ayrshire on Saturday after completion of the formalities of his move to Gorgie and Burley sees his acquisition as a vital part of his rebuilding process.

The former Derby boss reckons he needs six new players for the forthcoming season and he'll be pulling out all the stops in the coming days to ensure his squad has sufficient depth for the campaign ahead.

Regardless of the success of his recruitment drive, though, he can at least be encouraged at the progress the team is making.

The chink of light which caught his eye in the game against Middlesbrough is growing brighter by the day. Burley was suitably impressed by his team's performance against the Premiership side at Tynecastle last week and after the trip to Hull he has even more reason to be cheerful.

Managers will continually stress that the outcome of pre-season games is immaterial, fitness being the over-riding concern before the competitive action starts.

That may well be the case but nothing breeds confidence better than good results and the Jambos will head to Kilmarnock in better shape than they could have dared hope for just three weeks ago.

Although he has had little time to stamp his style on the team, the last two games have provided a source of real optimism for Burley. And while there is much work which lies ahead, it's so far so good as far as the new Gorgie chief is concerned.

"I thought it was a good professional performance on Saturday," he said. "We showed a lot of good discipline, had a good shape and a good work ethic.

"We looked nice and solid. Hull hardly created a chance so it was a good away performance and an ideal build-up as far as fitness levels were concerned.

"We have shown a bit of quality in the last two games but as I said the work ethic of the lads has been outstanding and if you have that, then no matter what players you have, you have a chance.

"I was pleased with their attitude and it was a good team performance. They have really kept their shape and discipline in the last two games. At the back we looked nice and solid and we had a number of good performances which was encouraging as Hull are a good side."

Craig Gordon was rarely tested against a side which booked its place in the Coca-Cola Championship this season courtesy of back-to-back promotions and it was his opposite number Bo Myhill who prevented a more comfortable margin of victory for the visitors. The home keeper produced good saves to twice deny Jamie McAllister in the first half and he raced off his line to thwart Calum Elliot after a dreadful back pass from Damien Delaney.

As seems to be custom in these matches, substitutions were the order of the day, Peter Taylor making no fewer than eight at the interval. That helped ruin what flow there was to the game and as a result the second half lacked any real goal threat.

Nevertheless, the fixture provided an ideal warm-up for Burley ahead of the new season.

In addition to Jankauskas, Sebastien Schemmel was given another 'trial' at right-back - Czech strikers Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil didn't feature through injury - and the Hearts boss remains confident of making successful forays into the transfer market in the days ahead. "I have been trying to put my style over to the players and I do think we have looked a bit stronger in the last two games," he said. "I am very pleased with the way the players have responded and if we manage to get the players in who we want then I am hopeful we can have a good season. We have brought one in so far [Skacel] and I said when I came here we needed six. That has not changed but whether we can sign five players this week or not remains to be seen. I am certainly confident we can sign a number of them."

Hull City: Leite (Leite, 45), Lynch (Wiseman, 45), Cort (Joseph, 45), Delaney (Byron (71), Edge (Dawson, 45), Green (France, 45), Ashbee (Wilkinson, 62), Woodhouse (Andrews, 45), Ellison (Benson, 71), Barmby (Fry, 45), Fagan (Elliott, 45).

Hearts: Gordon, Schemmel (Neilson, 71), Pressley, Webster, Wallace (Cesnauskis, 62), Mikoliunas, MacFarlane (Berra, 73), Hartley, McAllister, Elliot (Thorarinsson, 84), Jankauskas (Simmons, 62). Subs not used: MacDonald, Hamill.

Referee: M Atkinson.

Attendance: 8828.

Taken from the Scotsman