Hearts box clever to thump Bairns

IF Hearts' emphatic victory over Falkirk is anything to go by, then it surely is good to talk.

In the wake of the Jambos' woeful display against Rangers at Ibrox, the Tynecastle management team called the players in for an emergency meeting to analyse the possible reasons behind the worrying drop in standards.

Players were given the opportunity to air their views and whatever was said clearly had the desired effect, the 5-0 hammering of the ten-man Bairns the Gorgie outfit's biggest league victory since the 7-1 demolition of Dunfermline in February 2001.

This was more like the team which took the SPL by storm in the opening months of the campaign, John Hughes' side having no answer to the fast, free-flowing football. As far as belated Christmas presents are concerned, boss Graham Rix, pictured below right, could not have hoped for a better one. The head coach was in desperate need for a morale-boosting performance from his players after dismal showings against Inverness and Rangers, and the team delivered in style.

Despite just losing one of his first five matches in charge - at Ibrox - the Englishman had been under pressure to orchestrate an improvement and he proved he was up to the task with the home side producing their best display since his arrival last month.

By the time teenager Calum Elliot completed the rout in the 90th minute, festive cheer was thick in the air around Tynecastle.

So much for any bubbles bursting.

Midfielder Paul Hartley set the tone for the afternoon in the opening minute when his driving run helped set up Elliot, the youngster only denied by the fingertips of Matt Glennon.

The way his side had been starting games had been something of a concern for Rix but he had no such worries yesterday with the hosts sprinting out of the blocks.

By the time Hartley had put Hearts ahead with 20 minutes on the clock, the Jambos had already created four decent openings, Edgar Jankauskas the biggest offender when he fluffed a shot from 12 yards out with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

"I was obviously delighted," said Rix. "I am happy for the guys and I thought we were excellent from start to finish.

"We had a great tempo, played good football, kept a clean sheet and scored goals.

"We spoke in midweek about what we are good at and how to get the confidence and belief back. It was important to get a win yesterday but to do so with a performance like that was great."

The game was over as a contest by half-time, Hearts having romped into a 3-0 lead against opponents already handicapped by the 23rd-minute dismissal of Stephen O'Donnell.

With a caution already to his name, the Falkirk star launched a senseless challenge on Elliot in the middle of the park to leave referee Stuart Dougal with little option other than to brandish a second yellow card.

With the visitors still trying to reorganise themselves, Rudi Skacel left Falkirk with a mountain to climb two minutes later with a trademark left-foot shot which flashed past Glennon.

Elliot has been waiting a long time to break his scoring duck for the club but his big moment arrived as the interval approached, ironically after a close shave at the other end. Craig Gordon and Andy Webster combined to keep out Darryl Duffy and from the resultant break upfield the young striker scored.

Andy Lawrie made a mess of an attempted clearance from David Cesnauskis' cross and Elliot was left with the simplest of tasks from just yards out to net his first goal for Hearts. Understandably, Rix looked a relaxed figure on the sidelines after the break.

The Hearts boss sipped a cup of tea as the action unfolded in front of him but the display of his players would have been enough to disperse any chills he may have been feeling on a chilly Boxing Day afternoon.

"I was pleased with everything about the performance of the lads, really chuffed," he said.

"You could see the confidence come flooding back and if that doesn't bring back the belief then we have a problem. We got off to a good start and went from strength to strength. I was really pleased for the players as they have been working so hard for me since I came here."

With the points already secured, it was always going to be difficult for the home side to maintain their high-tempo approach in the second half. But with Cesnauskis looking more lively than of late, Rix's outfit ignored the inclination to just go through the motions.

Michal Pospisil, who last week refuted suggestions he would ask away from the club if he wasn't involved against Falkirk, replaced Jankauskas after 69 minutes and showed his eye for goal by netting his fourth of the season just four minutes later. Robbie Neilson picked out the Czech front man with a cross from the right and the 26-year-old applied a perfect finish as he sent a header beyond Glennon.

The Falkirk keeper denied the same player with a superb save as the game drew to a close but there was still time for the hosts to wrap up a fine performance with a fifth goal.

Fittingly it was young Elliot who completed the scoring, dispatching a shot behind Glennon as the game moved into stoppage time.

"Calum Elliot's attitude and work rate has impressed me, along with his ability of course," said Rix.

"I'm sure the two goals he got will have done him the world of good and there's no doubt he has a bright future in the game if he keeps improving."

The win keeps Hearts four points adrift of Celtic at the top of the table but with Hibs crashing to Inverness Caley Thistle, their advantage over their third-placed rivals has stretched to seven points. Rangers sit a distant 13 points behind after Dunfermline's dramatic fightback at East End Park saw them snatch a point.

"I wasn't bothered about the other results as it was important what we did out on the park," added Rix, "and I thought we were tremendous.

"I said to the guys before the match that we owed the supporters a performance and I think we gave them one. I hope they went home very happy.

"We now have a big game coming up against Celtic this weekend but I want to enjoy this one first."

Taken from the Scotsman