HEARTS DEADLY IN THE ARIA

Aug 22 2005

HEARTS 2 ABERDEEN 0 13 goals in four games for the leaders as opera rings around Tynecastle

By Gary Ralston

HEARTS fans have taken to belting out opera so it's only right their championship challenge is beginning to carry the serious weight of Pavarotti.

The traditional, rousing rendition of Glorious Hearts - sung by the late comedian Hector Nicol, a Hibee by the way - has been replaced as the pre-match aria of choice around Tynecastle.

Now it is Vladimir Romanov's name that is being sung lustily to the music of La Donna e Mobile from Rigoletto.

It is now so popular, what's the betting Jambos chief executive Phil Anderton will coax Scottish Opera on to the pitch before the Rangers game on September 24 to give old Giuseppe Verdi's famous number laldy?

While he is at it, he might also pull their plumpest female chorister to one side and ask her to pencil in provisionally a solo return for next spring.

The Fat Lady isn't about to sing, she isn't even in the process of clearing her throat and, if truth be told, she doesn't know the words to the title signature tune yet.

But on this early evidence she might yet be preparing for an appearance at Gorgie in time for the last acts of the SPL season, which ends on May 7.

Hearts boss George Burley is conducting a production with a sound that suggests they have more than one string to their bow as they bid to become big noises in Scottish football.

In the first three games of the season Hearts scored 11 goals, largely playing a passing game through a midfield in which Paul Hartley has been a stand-out.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood threw five across the middle in part to counter that threat, only to see his side succumb to the longer ball he feared and that indicates Hearts are as physical as they are fit.

Strikers Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar are capable of subtle movements on the ground for such big men but Russell Anderson and Zander Diamond both left the field with cuts streaming from their faces as the Jambos duo proved they are happy to put their head in where it hurts.

Hearts are developing the crucial chameleon capability of adapting to whatever environment they encounter and although it lacked much of the panache of previous wins only the sizeable Red Army in the crowd of 16,139 went away disappointed.

Greek full-back Takis Fyssas, making his home debut,said: "It was good to be in a hard game because we showed we are also a tough team.

"We have some tall boys and are very aggressive in defence and kept another clean sheet.

"I've only been at the club 10 days but already it feels longer as the other players have helped me to settle so well.

"We have this idea in the squad that we have no big stars but everyone is very good in their own position and I'm beginning to find my rhythm."

Calderwood bemoaned the lack of self-belief in his players in a game that was won as much in the mind as on the manicured playing surface of a bear pit stadium that surely matched the Old Firm for atmosphere.

There were exceptions - Scott Severin, for example - but the Dons failed miserably to compete with the aggression and pace of a Hearts side that must rank as the hardest working in the SPL.

The two goals apart, Dons keeper Ryan Esson, like Craig Gordon at the other end, rarely had a serious stop to make.

But he had to beon his toes, particularly in the first half when Hearts peppered his goal with shots, headers and half chances that whizzed just wide or over, many of which were created by the beguiling skills of Rudi Skacel.

This little Czech midfielder is already a firm favourite of home fans with a workrate to match the size of his heart and creativity in his left peg.

He scored for the fourth consecutive game, holding off a hesitant Dons rearguard to slam a low, left-foot shot past Esson on 20 minutes.

He blazed a second chance high over before half-time, in between chances from Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Jamie McAllister who hit a post.

Skacel was also in the mix when a long pass from defence dropped for countryman Michal Pospisil four minutes from time and he hooked a right-foot volley high over Esson from 18 yards.

Hearts are looking strong down the left with McAllister adding to competition with Skacel and Fyssas.

Former Panathinaikos and Benfica star Fyssas also enjoys an exceptional command of English, which has allowed him to grasp the Jambos' dressing room mantra.

He said: "In Edinburgh, all our fans are happy with Hearts and you can see we are trying to make something good at this club.

"However, we don't want to speak about that because we have only played four games and there are an awful lot still to play.

"We must remain focused and not think we are the best.We are good but we must continue to perform like this and if wedo, we will have a good year.

"I'm glad we've brought the supporters some happiness and sent the children who came to watch us home with a smile on their faces.

"But we've got to keep it going and prove again in the next match we're a good team."

Unsurprisingly, Burley is also keen to play down the heightened expectation surrounding his squad.

He said: "If we finish third and reach Europe it will be fantastic, particularly as we started pre-season in Dublin with a million miles to go.

"Our key is the boys are working really hard for each other and the spirit in the squad is great.

"I enjoy being out on the training field with them and I'm really pleased with the way everyone is working hard together

MAN OF THE MATCH Rudi Skacel (Hearts

MATCH STATS

POSSESSION 54% 46

SHOTS ON TARGET 5 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET 8 1

CORNERS 2 3

FOULS CONCEDED 19 12

OFFSIDES 1 1

HEARTS

MAN BY MAN

Craig Gordon: Coped fine with little his defence didn't take care of6

Robbie Neilson: Solid contribution

from full-back. 7 Takis Fyssas: Sound shift on home debut. More to come as fitness improves. 6 Steven Pressley - Forget the Fringe, Elvis forms best double act in Edinburgh with Andy Webster

7

Andy Webster: Super organisation

and reading of game. 7 Rudi Skacel: More left wing trickery from midfielder who threatens every time he's on ball.

9 Edgaras Jankauskas: Led front line unselfishly but still to find full match fitness.6 Paul Hartley: Stifled by five-man Dons midfield but always looking to support and create

6

Roman Bednar: Unselfish running and aerial threat caused Dons problems

7

Saulius Mikoliunas: Must contribute

more if he wants regular place. 5Julien Brellier: Classy midfield anchor also showed plenty of dig

7 Subs: Jamie McAllister - coped well with unfamiliar wide right role.Hit post, 6. Michal Pospisil - scored late second goal to ease nerves, 4. Stephen Simmons - on in the closing minutes, 1

ABERDEEN

MAN BY MANRyan Esson: Aside from two goals didn't have save to make

6

Kevin McNaughton: Flashes of

danger wide left but little penetration when it mattered.

6

Russell Anderson: Given torrid time before taken off with cut head5

Zander Diamond: Toiled against

Jankauskas and Bednar's physical threat. 5 Scott Severin: Kept midfield moving before dropping back to help defence.

7

Jamie Smith: Well policed by Fyssas out wide5 Barry Nicholson: Dons missed his drive in middle. Looked increasingly isolated wide right.

5

Stephen Lovell: Battled gamely but not enough service to trouble Jambos

6 Chris Clark: Worked hard defensively but rarely threatened further forward 6Gary Dempsey: Faded after bright start in advanced midfield role

5

Andrew Considine: Showed up well on left of three-man central defence

6 Subs: Scott Muirhead - On for injured Anderson but little impact, 3. John Stewart 3 - Limited contribution, 3. Richard Foster - Only got last eight minutes, 2

MOMENT THAT CHANGED THE GAME

Rudi Skacel's persistence at opener showed Hearts were hungrier for the victory than Jimmy Calderwood's side

Taken from the Daily Record