Redemption is sweet for Bednar

Livingston 2
Hearts 3

LATE winners always seem to arrive laced with something a little special, often being savoured weeks and sometimes months after they are executed.

That may very well be the case with Roman Bednar's intervention yesterday.

A man whose Hearts career has never wanted for drama since its inception eight months ago, the imposing Czech certainly knows how to make an entrance. Last week, he was issued the first red card of his life for his second bookable offence, which was feigning contact in a tackle in an attempt to win a penalty.

That dismissal came just ten minutes after Bednar's introduction as a substitute against Partick Thistle. Yesterday, in the biting cold of West Lothian, he rehabilitated himself, not that too many among the visiting support would have victimised him for his purported folly.

Bednar took over from Edgaras Jankauskas on 75 minutes clearly intent on making a positive contribution and set about upsetting the Livingston defenders with his physical presence and hazardous turn of pace. Twelve minutes later, he was accepting the clamorous adulation of the Hearts fans having slotted the side's decisive third goal past Roddy McKenzie.

Some of the cheer was released in relief more than anything else, with most inside Almondvale Stadium recognising that Hearts were getting out of jail with Bednar's winner after Livingston had twice retorted deservedly to level the match.

However, the crucial timing of the goal and the character inferred by it are the primary aspects for Graham Rix as he pores over the events of yesterday. Countless times throughout past seasons have Rangers or Celtic been the beneficiaries of definitive late goals, with the latter celebrating one against Hearts as recently as New Year's Day.

So for the Tynecastle side to display such defiance required a deep plunge into their reserves, both in a metaphorical and literal sense with Rix having deployed all three of his permitted substitutes by the time Bednar struck. The talismanic Czech will unquestionably be bestowed with much credit for his accurate finish but taking a moment to reflect on the player who assisted him with a loping pass during the initial stages of the move is fully justified.

Bruno Aguiar, in only his third appearance since signing from Benfica in January, was the epitome of the tenacious and creative modern midfield player against Livingston. He and Martin Petras accepted the central roles normally occupied by the suspended Julien Brellier and Paul Hartley, and with Petras evidently still requiring time to adjust to Scottish football's ferocity, it was Aguiar who exerted full control.

He scored the opener, via a deflection off Richard Brittain's ankle, and before firing the ball through for Bednar to surge past Jason Dair in the closing minutes, Aguiar gave a display of crafty passing, passionate tackling and admirable work-rate.

It is difficult to recall a flaw in his game and on yesterday's evidence he should be a cert to retain his place at Inverness on Saturday.

Livingston, under the guidance of John Robertson, seem a side far more motivated for their cause, which of course is SPL survival. Their first equaliser may have been as much down to good fortune as hesitant Hearts defending when Brittain's free-kick from the left was allowed to float untouched into the corner of Craig Gordon's goal, but, in truth, they could easily have found the net in the first half as both Graham Dorrans and Sam Morrow, the on-loan Hibs striker, passed up opportunities.

When Jankauskas flicked a Deividas Cesnauskis byline cross past McKenzie on 72 minutes, it seemed the home side were paying for their profligacy. But further rudderless defensive work by Hearts allowed Dave Mackay to spectacularly level for a second time, the absence of Steven Pressley's organisational skills being made clear as the ball remained within shooting distance without a convincing clearance.

The late introductions of Chris Hackett, who was making his Hearts debut, and Mirsad Beslija had a galvanising effect on Rix's players, and Bednar was soon profiting from the spirited upsurge as he took Aguiar's pass, touched the ball past Dair and slotted it past McKenzie. A portion of the credit must also be reserved for Rix. In recent weeks when Hearts have endured nervy segments of matches after half-time, the head coach has come in for criticism for an apparent unwillingness to alter tactics and/or personnel. But yesterday his changes were invigorating to his players, and, as such, three vital points were secured.

"Pressley, Hartley and Brellier are three key players for us - there's no doubt about that," said Rix. "But I thought the boys who came in did well and did what was asked of them. We could have put the game beyond Livingston but didn't and it needed a late flourish from us to get the win.

"I'm delighted for Bednar. His goal was a great individual effort and at least he lasted longer for us than he did last week." Naturally, there was a hint of sarcasm about that final comment, but Rix was deadly serious in his praise for the efforts of his opponents.

"Robbo had his players well fired up and they are fighting for their lives. If they continue to play like they did against us then they won't be too far away from making it to safety this season. It wasn't a free-flowing performance from either of the sides, but we dug in and matched Livingston and you have to do that if you are to come to these venues and dig out a result."

Robertson was a picture of frustration at full-time in what was his first home match as Livingston manager.

"Football can be a cruel game at times and it has definitely been cruel to us this time," he said. "Our players were magnificent from start to finish and we didn't get what we deserved.

"Hearts showed their quality and dug out an important three points but from our angle I couldn't fault the players. People know when they hire me that I'm going to send out a team that will attack and entertain. We need to do that, show a desire and a passion, and I told the players before the game if they didn't show that they wouldn't play. We have now set a standard for ourselves with this performance."

Exorbitant ticket prices of around £23 may have accounted for the poor attendance at Almondvale, with just 5058 braving the conditions to see a match which was being screened live by Setanta. However, one customer got true value for his money.

Little Kristian Webster was carried onto the pitch by his dad Andy, Hearts' captain in Pressley's absence, as the teams emerged for kick-off. On his son's first birthday, Webster then delivered a performance to be proud of by running Aguiar close for the man-of-the-match award despite his defensive colleagues being consistent only in their uncertainty.

The slackness ultimately went unpunished yesterday, but further folly from Hearts in the closing stages of this campaign will almost certainly prove damaging to Champions League ambitions.

Taken from the Scotsman