ED CASE COST US RECORD

STAND-IN boss John McGlynn last night blasted red-card flop Edgaras Jankauskas for finally costing Hearts their unbeaten run to derby rivals Hibs.

The Easter Road side climbed to within four points of the league leaders and wreaked revenge for their 4-0 Tynecastle slaying in August thanks to second-half goals from Guillaume Beuzelin and Garry O'Connor.

But the turning point came in 63 minutes when experienced striker Jankauskas - already on a yellow card for persistent fouling - stupidly pushed Scott Brown to the deck after winning a free-kick.

Ref John Underhill flashed a second yellow - and with the game on a knife-edge at 0-0 it gave Hibs a huge advantage they deservedly rammed home.

McGlynn laid the blame squarely on the Lithuanian and said: "He's an experienced player who should have known better than to get involved"Until then I felt confident we weren't going to lose a goal and the game was there to be won.

"I didn't think Craig Gordon had saves to make despite Hibs having more of the ball."

Now McGlynn knows there will be a clamour for Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov to appoint a new boss to replace George Burley.

Victory yesterday would have bought the millionaire owner a few weeks' grace to find the right man as he scours Europe.

German legend Ottmar Hitzfeld is the latest name on everyone's lips along with Sir Bobby Robson - although it appears Claudio Ranieri has slipped back in the race after a poor interview with Phil Anderton.

But the fans will demand a name NOW after a painful derby defeat and with the prospect of being knocked off the top of the league by Celtic this afternoon if they beat Dundee United. McGlynn said: "We have to stay strong.

"A derby win would have bought more time. But the decision is up to the board."

Steven Pressley agreed - although he's insists it's more important to get the RIGHT decision than a quick one.

The club captain said: "It's easy to blame defeat on the fact the manager has left but I don't know if that's fair.

"It's good to get a new man in but more important to get the right man in."

But Pressley insists they only have themselves to blame for Hearts' first defeat in 13 league games.

He said: "If we'd played to our usual standard we would not have lost. There wasn't much in it until the sending off but Hibs used the extra man well.

"None of blame Edgaras though - it's part and parcel of the game."

McGlynn also revealed he hooked Julien Brellier in the second half for fear he would see red too. The caretaker said: "He was tiring and I felt he might have put out a boot and caught someone."

Taken from the Sunday Mail