Ewan Murray at Tynecastle
Monday February 27, 2006
The Guardian

Even those who have closely scrutinised Vladimir Romanov's involvement with Heart of Midlothian remain unsure over quite what the Lithuanian businessman is hoping to achieve through his majority shareholding in the Scottish Premierleague club.

However, if one of Romanov's plans is to establish a colony from his homeland in Edinburgh, he is making steady progress. Television viewers in Lithuania tuned into this Scottish Cup tie, at which Lithuanian flags were paraded in the Tynecastle stands and goals from the country's international duo of Edgaras Jankauskas and Deividas Cesnauskis secured a place in the semi-final draw.

Romanov paid around £3,000 to secure the rights to screen the match in Lithuania, partly because he was unable to travel to Scotland himself due to business commitments and partly, it would seem safe to assume, to continue his policy of increasing the awareness of Hearts and Ukio Bankas, the club's Lithuanian-based main sponsors.

Jankauskas, who remains his country's highest-profile football export, has been a virtual fixture in the Hearts team since the start of the season, when George Burley was in charge at Tynecastle. The 30-year-old's only absences have been due to injury, but the role of Cesnauskis is somewhat more intriguing.

Relegated to little more than a bit-part role at Hearts under the man who now manages Southampton after a series of disappointing performances during pre-season, the winger has been handed a key and regular place in midfield since Graham Rix arrived in Edinburgh in November. While it would be an exaggeration to suggest the head coach is merely picking Cesnauskis to keep Romanov happy, the former Chelsea assistant clearly retains the support of the major shareholder and his Lithuanian players.

"Burley didn't pick me at all," said Cesnauskis. "So I wasn't playing a lot at the start of the season but I think Graham trusts me and that's why I am playing much more now. Burley didn't give me an explanation for not being in the team, but he had his own squad and I was not a part of that. I was like a stranger."

Saulius Mikoliunas came off the bench to add a third Lithuanian name to the Hearts line-up. With the country's former midfield star Valdas Ivanauskas among the Tynecastle coaching staff, those who remain uncomfortable with changing accents within the stadium's inner sanctums have little scope for complaint.

Cesnauskis's goal, which ultimately decided this tie, was a rare moment of brilliance in an otherwise disappointing performance. The 24-year-old danced off the right touchline to blast an unstoppable 18-yard shot into the top corner of Kenny Arthur's net.

Jankauskas had given Hearts an early lead with a firm header from Paul Hartley's cross but Thistle proved more than a match for their hosts and can consider themselves somewhat unfortunate not to have earned at least a replay. Mark Roberts pulled a goal back for the Second Division side with his own display of individual skill, but Rix's team held on despite losing the substitute Roman Bednar to two bookings within 10 minutes of entering proceedings.

Attention now turns, not least in Lithuania, to this evening's draw for the last four. Hibernian's 5-1 demolition of Falkirk means they are unlikely to view a potential meeting with Hearts with much trepidation.

Hearts will have to return a markedly improved performance in the semi-final to make progress, whatever the opposition. "Thistle deserved to beat us if truth be told," Rix admitted. "We were relieved to hear the final whistle."

Man of the match Craig Gordon

Hearts have their goalkeeper to thank for remaining in the competition after a lacklusture team display.

Best moment A one-handed save from Billy Gibson's deflected drive that had Thistle's manager Dick Campbell hailing the 'best goalkeeper in Britain for his age'.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer