Hearts out-hustled by Kille

IF Vladimir Romanov felt the Hearts players were being "mutilated", as one tabloid put it, on New Year's Day against Celtic, then woe betide the SFA when the footage of Saturday's match reaches Lithuania.

Romanov has much in common with his predecessor at Tynecastle, the late Wallace Mercer, in that he can openly court the media when the notion takes him and has an often-controversial opinion to offer.

It is his reasoning that Scottish football's officialdom let Hearts down badly in their January 1 defeat, and that case could be argued again after Saturday's performance of referee Steve Conroy as the hustling tactics of Kilmarnock left Graham Rix's players in a disorientated state, verging on the chaotic at times.

That is not to say Hearts lost purely as a consequence of poor decisions. Far from it. They were outfoxed by the clever, perhaps even slightly underhand, performance of the home players, many of whom have been harbouring feelings of injustice for the last fortnight after perceiving their treatment at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup to be somewhat brutish.

Hearts do have a physical aspect to their game this season which has not been evident in the past.

It is not allowed to influence any match beyond the boundaries of fairness, however it was equalled and probably bettered by Jim Jefferies' players at the weekend.

In a game from which it is difficult to recall one single flowing move, tackles were as regular as one every second during some particularly towsy spells. Going into every challenge, players had elbows up and boots flying, and after the ball had gone a sly trip or nudge was always to be seen.

Hearts gave as good as they got in that respect, but the critical aspect of this match and the fact that swung it in Kilmarnock's favour was the unexpected nature of the home side's approach. Killie aren't noted for their physical presence or slyness, and it upset Hearts no end.

Edinburgh supporters had a distressing enough start to the day after saying an emotional farewell to their former chairman, Mercer, at his funeral in the morning before departing for Ayrshire. At a time when certain attention-seeking deadbeats have decreed it fashionable to disrupt minute's silences at football grounds in any way possible, how refreshing it was to see the mark of respect for Mercer observed immaculately before kick-off at Rugby Park.

Cheering the considerable Tynecastle support up was a new face. Or, if you like, the reappearance of an old one. Neil McCann was back in a maroon shirt, but his withdrawal after just 24 minutes with a knee injury brought a collective groan from the away end.

"He has opened his knee joint up in a tackle and I feel sorry for the kid," said head coach Graham Rix afterwards. "He was really buzzing to get going but we will have to wait and assess the damage."

In truth, McCann endured a sickening collision with Kilmarnock's David Lilley in a tackle just moments before his substitution and did well to rise to his feet and continue for three minutes. That challenge was fair, most of the rest from both sides were debatable.

Kilmarnock had already signalled notice of their intent with a decent penalty claim refused by referee Conroy, Colin Nish falling under pressure from Robbie Neilson near the byline as he entered the area. Michal Pospisil then angled a powerful volley at Alan Combe after Neilson provided him with a chance that was to be Hearts' best of the afternoon.

The attacking approach which has seen them heavily lauded this season was nullified by the bustling hosts who closed every inch of space and swarmed all over a Hearts jersey any time the ball came near.

The consequence, without the probing of Rudi Skacel and the presence of Steven Pressley, saw the visitors take on a dishevelled appearance. Discipline was lacking, that much was evident before half-time when Neilson could easily have been dismissed for two bookable offences, and Julien Brellier's uncharacteristically irate demeanour when entering into tackles betrayed the signs of ruffled feathers.

Steven Naismith had clattered into Neilson and received a caution for his troubles on 22 minutes, but after the interval Kilmarnock continued to harass and Hearts wobbled evermore unsteady when Colin Nish's shot ricocheted off Christophe Berra into the path of the on-running Danny Invincibile. His finish clipped Takis Fyssas on its way past Craig Gordon.

Without anyone to link midfield and attack as Jefferies' side broke up move after Hearts move, Pospisil and Calum Elliot were devoid of service and ideas. The home side hardly laid siege on Gordon's goal either, but two chances of the sitter variety did present themselves and were spurned to the chagrin of the manager.

James Fowler's through ball put the suspiciously-offside Gary Wales in the clear and homing in on Gordon, but he failed to show the required bottle to bury his former employers.

Then, in the dying minutes, a long ball out of the Kilmarnock defence saw Wales and Neilson tussle.

The Hearts full-back appeared to punch the ball as he fell to the ground, but play continued and Wales squared for the unmarked Nish to blast off the post from just three yards out.

"We could have won 3-0," said Jefferies. "Wales and Nish should have scored but I can't argue with the players because all of them worked for the cause."

Jefferies was happy to give an insight into his definitive pre-match instructions to his players - to get in amongst Hearts and give them no quarter.

He said: "I heard Graham Rix say earlier in the week that, if both sides play to their best, then Hearts would win easily. Today, one team played well and the other didn't get a chance to."

Rix, pictured left, acknowledged that his players "never got going" and elaborated on ineffectual displays from the more forward-thinking members of his side.

"We lacked a thrust and when teams are coming at you it can sow a seed of doubt.

"You have to have enough to get you through and we didn't, so I'm bitterly disappointed."

The head coach then sped off from Rugby Park to catch a flight to Southampton, where he spent the remainder of the weekend with his family.

This result wouldn't have been far from his mind, though, and it is often said in football that, whilst defeats are unavoidable, it is a team's response to them that truly counts.

So, with that in mind, will there be a backlash this Saturday?

Taken from the Scotsman