Mikoliunas proves it is business as usual at Tynecastle

HEARTS 3 - 0 DUNDEE UTD

WEEK after week as their unbeaten run continued, Hearts' playing and coaching staff acknowledged the crucial test would be how they responded to their first league defeat. They had to wait more than three months to get that unwanted opportunity to show what they were made of. They took only four minutes to provide us with an answer.

Saulius Mikoliunas did something similar by providing the through ball for Paul Hartley to open the scoring. The Lithuanian winger, who had been out of the team since losing form in the early weeks of the season, quickly seized the opportunity to show the home fans what they had been missing.

Mikoliunas is not as disciplined a team player as Samuel Camazzola, the man he ousted from the starting line-up, but he is more dynamic. While it is true he can often be found out of position, at times that is a testament to his work rate, as was exemplified late in the first half when this right-sided midfielder popped up at left-back to break down a Dundee United attack.

In tighter, tenser games, Mikoliunas might be a weak link, but against weaker opposition - and United certainly came into that category - his wholehearted enthusiasm is an inspiration. Time after time he was first to a loose ball, delicately lifting it into the air above the incoming feet of an opponent. In brief, his work-rate and enthusiasm were second to none, unless you count the admirably manic Wheatfield Stand ballboy.

The absence of Mikoliunas from George Burley's line-ups was a source of annoyance for the Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov, as was the presence of Julien Brellier. The Frenchman, however, has remained in the team under the interim management of John McGlynn, and in this match he showed precisely why he is so highly valued with a tenacious performance which did more than any other Hearts player to undermine United's hopes.

The role just in front of the back four is unglamorous and undemonstrative, but it is crucial nonetheless. Break up an attack, then immediately initiate one of your own with a five- or ten-yard pass. It looks simple, but it requires timing, composure and strength, and Brellier has all three qualities in abundance.

From midway through the first half the Hearts fans recognised the Frenchman's contribution by singing his name to the tune usually reserved for Romanov, although by the end they were singing the praises of the owner too. Those fans can only hope for the sake of their team that the Baltic businessman's complaints about Brellier stemmed from the fact that he was a Burley signing rather than an inability to see what a good job he is doing.

By the time the Brellier chants began, Hearts were two up and cruising after a free-kick drifted towards the back post by Rudi Skacel evaded everyone and found the back of the net. Gordon Chisholm brought on Derek McInnes for Grant Brebner just after that goal, but there was no discernible difference to United's play between then and the interval.

They did begin the second half more brightly, but were finally killed off a dozen minutes after the restart when Paul Hartley charged down an attempted clearance, trundled on into the box, then squared for Michal Pospisil to score the third. A double penalty save by Craig Gordon from Barry Wilson rubbed salt into the wounds, and Pospisil could have made it 4-0 late on when he first headed against the bar and then put the rebound over the top.

"It was very important that we won today," said Takis Fyssas, the Hearts left-back. "I'm very happy that we've finished this game, have a rest for two weeks, and then come back with bigger power."

Fyssas and five of his colleagues will not have a complete rest, as they will be on duty for their countries, but the relevant point is that Hearts now have a fortnight's breathing space in which to make managerial appointments. Whoever does come in will find themselves in the fortunate position of inheriting a squad who are professional enough to motivate themselves for matches even in the most difficult circumstances.

Taken from the Scotsman