GOAL HERO RUDI KEEPS HEARTS TOP

Aug 21 2005

HEARTS ...............2 ABERDEEN .........0 Czech strikes in every game

Scott Mcdermott At Tynecastle

RED-HOT Rudi Skacel kept the jubilant Jambos riding high at the top of the table with a superb display to dump the Dons.

The Czech midfielder was in sensational form again yesterday and has now scored in EVERY game this season.

His first-half strike sent George Burley's high fliers on their way before another new boy Michal Pospisil sealed victory late on.

This wasn't the Tynecastle side's best performance of the season but they've put a marker down in the race for third spot - or even higher.

Burley is playing down talk of splitting the Old Firm yet they beat Jimmy Calderwood's men EASILY without hitting top gear.

Skacel could be the find of theseason and will light up Scottish football during his loan spell from Marseille. On this kind of form Hearts will struggle to hold on to him.

The Czech received a standing ovation when he was taken off late in the game but doesn't care if fails to score again this season - as long as the Jambos keep winning.

Skacel said: "I'm pleased to score again but the most important thing was to pick up another three points.

"Goals are always nice but it doesn't matter how many I score.

"It wouldn't bother me if I don't get any more than four for the season as long as we keep winning games.

"My best goals return is nine so I'm delighted to get another one.

"It's a great start and I'm enjoying playing for the club. I had never heard of Hearts before I came here.

"In the Czech Republic we only know Rangers and Celtic but I've been surprised just how big a club I'm now playing for.

"The response from the supporters when I came off was special."

Skacel would love to stay in Edinburgh beyond his loan spell and is desperate to become a regular in his national side.

But Rudi revealed he won't even talk about extending his stay in Scotland for another six months.

He said: "Right now I'd like to stay. Hearts are a good club with great fans and I enjoy Edinburgh as a city.

"But I don't know what will happen. We will talk about my situation in six months or so.

"All that is important at the moment is doing well for Hearts. I don't know if we can challenge the Old Firm - I will know more once we play Rangers in a few weeks.

"That's an important game for everyone at Hearts."

It was a sell-out at Tynecastle yesterday and the atmosphere in the scorching weather was electric.

Credit to the Dons support too. They packed out the Roseburn Stand and contributed to an occasion that should have EVERYONE believing Scottish football has a bright future.

Calderwood lined his troops up in an unorthodox 3-4-3 formation with Jamie Smith and Gary Dempsey deployed as wide men up front.

It was a shrewd move as Aberdeen had the better of the opening exchanges despite Steve Lovell often getting isolated up front.

The first decent effort on target came on 17 minutes from former Jambo Scott Severin. The midfielder picked up Dempsey's pass and rifled in a 25-yard shot that Craig Gordon smothered.

At that stage Burley was scratching his head on the touchline but it all changed two minutes later when Hearts went in front.

Skacel bagged his fourth goal of the season but the Dons defence should have stopped him pouncing.

Andy Webster hit a harmless ball into the box but when Russell Anderson and Zander Diamond failed to clear the Hearts star swivelled superbly and buried his strike beyond Ryan Esson.

It may have been against the run of play but Aberdeen could have no excuses for their shoddy defending.

It should have been two on the half hour but skipper Steven Pressley missed a sitter six yards out. Skacel's corner was flicked on by Roman Bednar and Elvis had ghosted free at the back post.

The net should have been bulging but Pressley's woeful half-volley flew well over the top.

Skacel should have smacked home his second after Bednar's hit was blocked by Andy Considine but with his weaker right foot he blazed over.

Dons midfielder Barry Nicholson screamed for a penalty three minutes after the break when Julien Brellier challenged him but whistler Mike McCurry rightly waved play on.

Aberdeen suffered another blow on 58 minutes when captain Anderson went off with a burst nose.

The Scotland star never recovered from a nasty head knock by Edgaras Jankauskas in the first half.

Scott Muirhead came on and the outstanding Severin dropped back to take Anderson's place in defence.

John Stewart was also introduced to give the Dons some firepower while Bednar was replaced by Pospisil up front for Hearts.

The Jambos sub set up fellow replacement McAllister for a volley that cracked the outside of the post on 84 minutes.

Pospisil then killed the game off four minutes from time. He appeared to foul Diamond in the build-up but ref Mike McCurry waved play on and Pospisil unleashed a terrific drive into the corner.

That sent the Tynecastle crowd into raptures, with cries of "we shall not be moved" ringing around the ground.

While they might be getting carried away Burley certainly isn't. He said: "I'm pleased because our keeper didn't have a save to make and that's three clean sheets in a row for us.

"It's still early on - the season is a marathon not a sprint and we're just out the starting blocks.

"When we came back from Dublin in pre-season I thought we might struggle but we managed to bring a few players in and they've gelled quickly.

"We can get better - I still don't think the squad is strong enough and I want a couple more in."

If the new faces are half as good as Skacel the Jambos will be laughing

ref watch

MIKE McCURRY got most of his decisions spot on and was right to turn down Barry Nicholson's penalty claim. But he should have given Dons a free-kick before the second. Rating: 6/10

Taken from the Sunday Mail