Hearts 2 - 1 Kilmarnock

ROB ROBERTSON January 09 2006

IN times of adversity in football, strong characters step forward and take responsibility. Steven Pressley has done that time and time again during his career, and just now the Hearts captain and his leadership qualities are needed more than ever.

The Edinburgh club, despite their off-the-field problems, remain second top of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and have just squeezed past Kilmarnock into the next round of the Scottish Cup.

However, they lack a charismatic, tactically aware figure to guide the side from the touchline. Graham Rix is an excellent coach but, by his own admission, did not come to Tynecastle as a manager to make tactical changes. The sooner Hearts appoint a director of football to take the pressure off his shoulders the better.

Against Kilmarnock, there were a couple of moments which made you wonder if Rix has the ability to change things tactically during 90 minutes. The same questions were asked during the 3-2 reversal to Celtic last week and the same old problems popped up again on Saturday.

On one occasion, Rudi Skacel ran across from the left side of the park to explain that he was being overrun by Kilmarnock's Gordon Greer and Steven Naismith. The midfielder then spent some time trying to explain his plight to the other players until Pressley sorted things out.

The fact that the Czech internationalist had to point out the problem on the left flank before the management team appeared to notice it, must be a worry to Hearts fans, especially as anybody could see Kilmarnock's 3-5-2 formation was causing problems to the 4-4-2 system favoured by Rix.

In another incident, Pressley had to step in to bark instructions at young striker Calum Elliot, who was drifting out of position much too often.

Both situations were dealt with superbly by Pressley who also had to help organise the formation of the side. His defensive partnership with Andy Webster is vital to Hearts as they provide a strong backbone which allows players like Paul Hartley to get forward.

Hearts have individually talented players but they lack the fluency they showed under George Burley. Part of the reason for this is their inability to react quickly to changes in the opposition line-up and they are too rigid in their formation.

Tactically, Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, showed Rix that managerial experience is a vital asset and it was his awareness rather than the quality of his players which helped his team nearly snatch a draw.

Jefferies has shown he can work on a tight budget, and with Dundee United interested in his services, he may think the time is right to move on, particularly with his top striker, Kris Boyd, sold to Rangers.

If the Hearts match turns out to be his last as Kilmarnock manager, he will leave knowing he has proved his doubters wrong and left the Rugby Park side in good shape, despite being out of the Scottish Cup.

Pressley opened the scoring from a Robbie Neilson throw-in and from a Killie point of view it will be one of the worst goals they will lose this season. Not one of the defenders challenged for the ball which hung in the air for an age before Pressley nodded home.

Substitute Jamie McAllister got the second with 15 minutes left, but just as they did against Celtic the week before, Hearts defended too deep and allowed the opposition to attack. With four minutes left, Colin Nish pulled one back and Kilmarnock can consider themselves unlucky not to secure a replay.

Hearts desperately need to strengthen their squad. They will have to rely on Elliot and Michal Pospisil up front in their next match against Dunfermline as Edgaras Jankauskas is facing two or three weeks out after picking up a hamstring strain against Kilmarnock.

Roman Romanov, the Hearts chairman, has said players will not be leaving Tynecastle and that new ones will be arriving.

For Hearts to keep up their challenge in the league and Scottish Cup, the Lithuanian must be true to his promises.

Taken from the Herald