Kilmarnock 2 - 4 Hearts

DARRYL BROADFOOT at Rugby Park

August 01 2005

THE Vladimir Romanov era may have started unconvincingly but the bold proclamations of Hearts' new owner could yet prove justified.

George Burley's first match in charge was the ideal preparation for next week's derby against Hibernian. Kilmarnock were rent asunder by an exhibition of free-flowing football which left the 3200 travelling support smacking their lips in anticipation of a return to Bank of Scotland Premierleague prominence.

Romanov's ultimate ambition to mould a team capable of competing with the Old Firm no longer seems consigned to the realm of fantasy, given Celtic's deepening turmoil. Central to the grand plan is giant striker Edgaras Jankauskas, the latest in what is expected to be a procession of players plucked from Romanov's ready-made feeder club, FBK Kaunas.

A UEFA Cup winner under José Mourinho's tutelage at FC Porto, Jankauskas is the focal point of a work in progress. He was ably assisted by Rudi Skacel, a dynamic left-sided attacker signed on loan from Olympique Marseille. His acquisition alone is a statement of intent from a team who were in constant crisis last season.

The Czech Republic internationalist joined fellow debutant Roman Bednar on the scoresheet, with Saulius Mikoliunas, the pick of last season's Lithuanian recruits, furnishing a typically enigmatic performance with a sublime finish.

Burley could not contain his satisfaction at the systematic disposal of Kilmarnock by a forward line that has yet to reach equilibrium.

With Steven Pressley committing his future to the club after a period of upheaval that finished with the captain taking temporary charge of team affairs, and Paul Hartley no longer pining for Parkhead, Hearts have made the first step on an exciting and unpredictable voyage.

"Everybody had been a bit sceptical of Mr Romanov and everything he said, but he has been true to his word and is bringing in new faces and, more importantly, new faces of real quality," said Pressley.

Kilmarnock rarely had a moment's respite against the perpetually pesky visiting attack. Burley's 4-4-2 formation became an adventurous 4-2-4 in the blink of an eye. Most encouragingly, the continental collection were happy to engage in physical confrontation, much to the anguish of the referee, Alan Freeland.

"I could not ask for any more," Burley said. "The three new lads are not yet fully fit but, as well as showing what they are capable of, really impressed me with their work ethic. We have had a major rebuilding programme but we would still like to improve the squad."

A promise of further strengthening will strike fear into the serious challengers for third place – Hibernian, Aberdeen and Dundee United. Jankauskas, a formidable targetman with the most graceful of ground strokes, terrorised Kilmarnock throughout. Poor Simon Ford not only struggled to contain a physical and technical superior, but was also the victim of a presumably alcohol-fuelled jape when he was awarded the man of the match bubbly in the Fosters Lounge.

Hearts gave little indication of their superiority during an error-strewn start, but Kilmarnock never looked comfortable in their early lead. A Peter Leven throw-in caught the Hearts defence off-guard, enabling the diminutive Steven Naismith to squeeze a shot past Craig Gordon.

It was the swaggering Skacel who instigated a swift and clinical recovery within a minute, smashing a stray ball high into Alan Combe's net after the goalkeeper blocked impressively from Bednar's close-range shot. Sensing the primary source of danger, Naismith and the luckless Ford tag-teamed Jankauskas in front of the dug-out. The Kilmarnock striker was booked for applying excessive force, intensifying a simmering duel which ended with six bookings.

The Hearts striker would not be deterred from making a positive first impression. Skacel turned provider for the second, whipping over a deep cross which Jankauskas, straining every sinew, managed to redirect into the path of Bednar to head past Combe.

Not to be outdone, Mikoliunas put his nuisance value to productive use. The baby-faced Lithuanian has thus far succeeded in irritating managers, referees, linesmen, opponents and team-mates with a litany of unsavoury incidents.

On Saturday, he went through the full repertoire but ensured the enduring image would be a sublime finish. Gary McDonald's misplaced pass was intercepted by Bednar and recycled into the path of Mikoliunas. He checked inside and dispatched a curling left-foot shot beyond Combe.

Gordon Greer offered brief hope of a comeback with a thunderous header from Gary Locke's free-kick but Hearts re-established their authority with two minutes remaining.

Ford was caught in a fankle at the edge of his own penalty area, spilling possession into the path of Jankauskas and watching in horror as the Lithuanian fell at the feet of a desperate Locke. Hartley converted the penalty emphatically to kill off the Rugby Park side's meek challenge.

"It was a physical game and that caused us problems," said Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, comforted by the fact that his team will not be alone in succumbing to the might of a reinforced Hearts this season.

Taken from the Herald