Tynecastle is now vlad all over

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS 4-0 HIBERNIAN

VLADIMIR Romanov blew kisses to his adoring Tynecastle public as Hearts romped to derby glory against Hibs. Judging by the performance of his Jambos in dishing out the 4-0 hammering of their arch rivals, it's a Gorgie love affair which looks set to deepen.

It's been many a year since the famous old stadium resonated to the sound of thousands of appreciative supporters chanting the name of the club's owner. So often in the past the ground has been the focal point of protests and demonstrations by fans incensed at the manner in which the football club was being run by the board.

These are changed days down Gorgie Road, though, and the ambitious Romanov has quickly won the hearts of the punters with his willingness to put his money where his mouth is as he seeks to break the Old Firm's domestic dominance.

The fireworks which greeted the teams as they ran out the tunnel could have been blowing away the remnants of the Chris Robinson era. Okay, so the former chief executive is to be paid by the Lithuanian as a consultant in the process of finding Hearts a permanent new home. But if the powerful brand of football which swept away the hapless Hibees is a little taster for the future, then will the fans really care that much?

Presumably not.

Last week's win at Kilmarnock forced many people to sit up and take note of what's been happening at Hearts since the appointment of a new manager just a matter of weeks ago. And the nature of yesterday's crushing victory and the refreshing atmosphere in the stadium has only re-emphasised the fact that this sleeping giant is stirring once again.

More than 10,000 season tickets have already been sold and Burley's first competitive home game was an official sell-out. Chief executive Phil Anderton's aim of having average crowds of 16,000 may not seem so fanciful if the team enjoys the progress planned by Romanov.

The meeting with Hibs was scheduled much earlier in the season than the Hearts management team would have preferred and as such was an acid test for the new-look side.

It was a test they passed with flying colours.

"It's always nice to win a derby and that's two victories from our first two matches which is good," said Burley. "I said when I came here that it would take three or four weeks before we formed a squad and got the players fully fit.

"But I knew there were goals in the side and that's now eight we have scored which is encouraging.

"I thought we were excellent in the first half."

From the first whistle the hosts seized control of proceedings with a tempo Hibs found difficult to match. However, it must have been a source of frustration for the former Ipswich and Derby County boss that he didn't have more than the one goal to show for all the good work his players put in during the opening period.

Midfielder Rudi Skacel celebrated his call-up to the Czech Republic squad for next month's clash against Sweden with his second goal in successive matches, the new signing beating Gary Smith in a race for the ball to bundle home the opener after compatriot Roman Bednar had seen his shot blocked by Zbigniew Malkowski.

The visitors almost hit back immediately with what would prove to be a rare effort on goal, Craig Gordon saving well from Gary Caldwell.

The Easter Road skipper was forced out of the action later in the half after fracturing a rib in a collision with his keeper, the Scotland defender's presence sorely missed as Hearts turned the screw after the break.

The Hibs players had been the subject of a media ban in the build-up to the Capital showdown, boss Tony Mowbray no doubt hoping his men would do their talking on the pitch.

The Englishman did a little bit too much speaking for referee Stuart Dougal's liking, however, and found himself banished to the stand on the stroke of half-time after a touchline discussion with the official.

Apart from a brief flurry from his side early in the second half, what he saw could not have made for pleasant viewing.

Kevin Thomson sent an angled lob wide of Gordon's far post in the 49th minute and then 60 seconds later Guillaume Beuzelin wasted his side's best chance when he sent a back-post header wide of target.

As those close shaves proved, a one-goal advantage is a precarious lead but the game swung decisively in the Jambos' favour with 58 minutes on the clock.

Stephen Glass needlessly handled in the box and Paul Hartley converted from the spot to make it 2-0.

As Burley conceded afterwards there was only going to be one winner after that. Tynecastle swung into party mode when substitute Stephen Simmons - he had replaced 18-year-old Calum Elliot who had been given the nod in place of the injured Edgaras Jankauskas - stretched his side's lead after 71 minutes. And there was more joy for the home fans seven minutes from time when Saulius Mikoliunas blasted a 25-yarder past Malkowski.

More goals looked a distinct possibility at that stage and Dougal was perhaps feeling sorry for the visitors as he brought an end to proceedings 30 seconds early, The final shrill blast of his whistle saw Hearts storm to the top of the SPL but nobody at Tynecastle is getting carried away.

"I was very pleased with the team's performance but there is a lot of work still to be done," said Burley, who pointed to the penalty award as the crucial point in the game. There are always crucial incidents in matches and the penalty came at a time when Hibs were playing well and we were looking a wee bit ragged.

"Having said that I thought they were fortunate to be just 1-0 down at half time. It certainly changed the game and after the second goal I thought we looked fairly comfortable."

The delirious Hearts fans made their way home with smiles as broad as Gorgie Road, no doubt convinced their team is well on the way to re-establishing itself as the third force - if not better - in Scottish football. We finished a long way behind the Old Firm last season so if we can finish third and take the club back into Europe it would be tremendous for us," said Burley.

On the evidence of the opening SPL exchanges, few would bet against that target being met.

Taken from the Scotsman