Scotland: Falkirk 1 Hearts 2: Hearts scare for new coach

When he was replaced by Calum Elliot in the 61st minute, he had an exchange with Patrick Cregg as he went off that suggested afters were on his mind even then.

It proved an inspired change on Valdas Ivanauskas’s part, but only after he moved Elliot from the left, where he struggled, to the right where he helped create the winner for Edgaras Jankauskas with nine minutes left. The goal’s genesis, though, was a slack pass from Tiago Rodrigues to Julien Brellier, still surviving Vladimir Romanov’s attempts to axe him, and the midfielder found Elliot who made ground down the right and then timed his diagonal switch of play impeccably. Jankauskas’s normally flawless first touch deserted him but when his hurried shot was blocked by Ross the ball rebounded fortuitously from the big striker’s knee into the far corner.

This allowed the new interim head coach to indulge in some mutual applause with the 2,000 visiting supporters at the end, but he has to fret over a head injury to Steven Pressley that required stitches before the Scottish Cup semi-final with Hibs. “I don’t have a good feeling,” said Ivanauskas.

Pressley finished the first half doing a Terry Butcher impersonation, head bandaged, shirt bloodied, and did not reappear for the second half. That left Hearts without both their Scotland centre-backs as Andy Webster couldn’t play due to a stomach bug.

Brellier, therefore, had to stand guard in front of the untried but pacy partnership of Jose Goncalves and Christophe Berra in the second half. Like Skacel, the Frenchman collapses too easily and did so under a slight dunt from Cregg to provoke a rancorous period in which five players were booked toward a final total of eight yellow cards, four each. Brellier is maybe always expecting the push because Romanov has browbeaten two managers for picking him, though. “I am a footballer and I just want to play games,” said the Frenchman, “but I read the papers like all the people in Scotland.”

He will not ask to meet Romanov to clear the air, which is probably prudent. Hearts’ owner was present yesterday and Grangemouth’s belching refinery perhaps reminded him of some of his industrial interests back home.

Falkirk, meanwhile, remain without a home win in the Premierleague this season but are patently anxious to throw off a reputation for being the most obliging hosts in the competition. John Hughes put five men across the back yesterday and three feisty midfielders in front of that but it was a test that Hearts passed. “Hearts lost their captain and had to put up with what happened on the management side during the week and they dug it out,” said Falkirk’s manager. “I just wish we could do that.”

After being treated to something of a Proclaimers medley beforehand, to their chagrin, the visiting fans made a point of their own by quickly singing the praises of Brellier to the tune they also use for Romanov. The home support, meanwhile, directed their ire at Skacel, who won a dubious free-kick when Ross appeared to win a 50-50 contest fairly. Paul Hartley’s subsequent free-kick broke to the Czech in the box but Mark Howard parried his powerful, but straight, drive.

Hartley and Skacel were involved again, however, as Hearts claimed the lead in the 23rd minute. The Czech burst down the left past Ross and crossed low into the six-yard box where Hartley, showing characteristic desire, turned the ball in perhaps with a little help from Mark Twaddle. Falkirk had spurned their best chance seconds before this, when Cregg spread play to Liam Craig, whose cross from the left deserved better than to be nodded wide by Tiago.

Their goal instead came after a hotly-disputed free-kick awarded against Pressley for a challenge on Pedro Mountinho on the edge of Hearts’ box at the end of the first half. Alan Gow’s attempt to whip his free-kick over the wall was denied by Roman Bednar jumping with his hand above his head. Craig Gordon used his hands legitimately to stop Gow’s penalty but the striker lifted the rebound high into the net. Falkirk remain two wins from safety, while Hearts remain two wins ahead of Rangers.

STAR MAN: Paul Hartley (Hearts)

Player ratings. Falkirk: Howard 6, Ross 6, Tiago Rodrigues 5, Dodd 6, Lecsinel 6, Twaddle 6 (McPherson 88min, 5), Thomson 6, Cregg 6, Craig 6 (O’Donnell 86min, 5), Gow 6, Moutinho 6 (Latapy 71min, 6)

Hearts: Gordon 7, Neilson 6 (Petras 82min, 6), Pressley 6 (Berra 46min, 7), Goncalves 7, Fyssas 6, Cesnauskis 6, Brellier 6, Hartley 7, Skacel 6 (Elliot 63min, 7), Bednar 6, Jankauskas 6

Booked: Pressley 30, Neilson 45, Craig 54, Twaddle 55, Brellier 58, Jankauskas 62, Mountinho 64, Cregg 84

Attendance: 5,966

Referee: Alan Freeland

Taken from timesonline.co.uk