Hearts stars ponder strike action after day of drama

DUNDEE UNITED 1 HEARTS 1

WITH THE 20th anniversary of their infamous surrendering of the Premier League title on the final day of the campaign at Dens Park fast approaching, Hearts’ hopes of lifting this season’s SPL title suffered a massive setback in the City of Discovery last night, writes Graeme Dey.

An exchange of goals between Grant Brebner and Paul Hartley at Tannadice opened up the possibility of Celtic moving 10 points clear of the Jam Tarts at the head of affairs by beating Falkirk this evening.

And that put the tin lid on a desperate day for the capital club.

Just hours earlier they’d been plunged into turmoil after it emerged coach Graham Rix had informed the playing staff that a selection showing six changes from the side which had ushered Aberdeen out of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup last weekend was not his choice.

Rix revealed that, on the instruction of club owner Vladimir Romanov, Andy Webster, Robbie Neilson, Deividas Cesnauskis, Mrsad Beslija, Lee Johnson and Jose Concalves were making way for Christophe Berra, Rudi Skacel, Paul Hartley, Takis Fyssas, Ludek Straceny and Martin Petras.

The recalling of Hartley, Fyssas and Skacel was hardly eyebrow raising, but the dropping of defensive stalwarts Webster and Neilson certainly was, and Jam Tarts fans delivered their verdict on the latter’s omission with a rousing welcome when he was introduced in place of Petras early in the second period.

But the issue of Romanov deciding who plays is set to escalate massively over the next 24 hours.

Rix—whose future must be in serious doubt—refused to be drawn on events leading up to the game, but skipper Steven Pressley made clear the players have had enough of Romanov’s way of running the Tynecastle outfit.

He revealed the playing staff will meet today to talk over the situation and it is understood one possibility they are to consider is going on strike.

“We have had to endure a lot at this football club but this has been a very difficult day for the players,” said Pressley.

“We are 100% behind our manager. We have a great belief in him. He is a great coach and a lovely man.

“I will be meeting with my fellow players tomorrow when we will discuss our next move.

“The lads are slightly confused at the moment and we sympathise with our manager. I am sure you will see in the days to come that action will take place.

“No person is bigger than this football club.”

United had been on course to inflict defeat on the capital side until a hotly disputed penalty award, involving Pressley, handed the visitors a way back into the game they would deservedly have lost.

Unsurprisingly, given their problems, Hearts looked a shadow of the side who had seen off the Dons and thumped Hibs.

United, in contrast, turned in another encouraging showing under new boss Craig Brewster and were unfortunate not to bag the three points they were looking for to enhance their top-six challenge.

In truth the outcome suited neither side. And their prospects of avoiding suspension problems in the closing weeks of the campaign weren’t helped by each having a man sent off and four players booked.

With half-time in sight, Hearts fans were still trickling into Tannadice after the volume of visiting supporters seeking entry overwhelmed access points.

The news which greeted them was far from encouraging for their side were a goal down, having failed to make any sort of impression on the game.

The Jam Tarts had fashioned just one chance—Michal Pospisil allowing Ludek Straceny’s driven cross through his legs when any half decent touch would have turned the ball in—before, with 34 minutes gone, United grabbed the lead.

The goal owed much to the tenacity of Charlie Mulgrew who battled his way to the by-line out on the left wing before delivering one of those superb crosses he specialises in. Midfielder Brebner applied the required finish, squeezing a header in at the back post with Craig Gordon looking a tad suspect.

The Tangerines had a good go at stretching their advantage after the interval. Gordon had to get down at the near post and smother a Brebner cross before Collin Samuel could react, only the timely intervention of Berra thwarted David Fernandez after he controlled Duff’s through ball and shaped to score.

Then Samuel missed a pinch, arriving unmarked at the far upright to meet Robson’s corner—only to drive his finish into the ground and over the bar on the bounce.

At the other end Calum Elliot tried to curl the ball into the far corner but Alan Archibald nodded it out for a corner.

Unfortunately Archibald proved less effective when going up for a Robson corner, failing to connect after throwing himself at the ball as it fizzed across goal three yards out.

And with seven minutes left the Tangerines defender found himself at the centre of the penalty furore after Pressley, with Archibald in close attendance, went to ground inside the area well away from the ball.

Referee Dougie McDonald didn’t hesitate in gesturing at the spot and once United protests had died down, Hartley calmly slotted home the penalty.

The award incensed the home side and Archibald pointed an accusing finger at Pressley.

“It was like any other freekick in our box, with a bit of jostling going on, but their player just went down,” he said.

“No one claimed for the penalty and I felt he went down quite easily but that’s what he’s got to do I suppose.

“He tried the same thing 20 minutes earlier but the referee waved that one away.”

Pressley brushed aside the issue though.

“I have absolutely no concern about what Dundee United players say,” he commented.

No one apart from Brebner who ended up being booked reacted with greater fury to the decision than Robson who angrily confronted Pressley.

And Robson, on the occasion of his 100th appearance for the club, was tempting fate with a lunging tackle on the Hearts skipper just three minutes later.

Still, the referee looked to have over reacted in flashing the red card, as he did with Brellier after he got involved with David McCracken following Robson’s challenge.

United boss Brewster had considerable sympathy for his winger, who has just returned a two-match ban.

“I asked the players to compete, to be strong and aggressive and right from the start we were immense,” he said

“To lose the penalty in the manner we did was disappointing but the bigger disappointment for me was the loss of Robson.

“I don’t think there was any malice in him. He was strong to hold the ball but then he’s knocked it a touch in front and as he’s tried to retrieve it Pressley has stood on the ball and the referee has given a straight red which I thought was extremely harsh.”

In addition to the dismissals and yellow card for Brebner, McDonald cautioned the Hearts quartet of Fyssas, Skacel, Petras and Straceny along with Samuel, Mark Kerr and Stuart Duff.

Attendance—10,000.

Dundee United—Stillie, McCracken, McInnes, Archibald, Mulgrew, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Duff, Fernandez, Samuel (Miller 90). Subs not used— Samson, Kenneth, Robertson, Gardiner, Abbott, Goodwillie.

Hearts—Gordon, Fyssas, Pressley, Skacel, Hartley, Berra, Pospisil (Cesnauskis 60), Elliot, Breillier, Straceny (Mikoliunas 76), Petras (Neilson 51). Subs not used—Banks, Webster, Wallace, Aguiar.

Referee—Dougie McDonald.

Taken from the Courier