Hearts close to second prize

HEARTS 2
Hartley, 69; Berra, 86

KILMARNOCK 0

PAUL Hartley couldn't have known. Word had only just filtered in that Rangers had taken the lead at Ibrox. But the stand-in captain stepped up to whip a free-kick from the edge of the box past Kilmarnock keeper Alan Combe. That was in 72 minutes and it was a timely contribution appreciated by a Hearts crowd growing edgy.

They were only just getting going on their European repertoire in the wake of that strike when the Ibrox update buoyed them with news that Aberdeen had pegged Rangers back. It certainly helped the mood.

Even outside Tynecastle before kick-off, the nerves had been building. The home fans articulated fears. Maybe that comes with experience. Having suffered the oh-so-near-but-yet-so-far stories in the past, no-one is taking second place for granted. On paper they have the easier run-in, on recent form, they had the momentum but their captain was missing and certain favourites had been consigned to the stand.

A team who looked almost untouchable in their past couple of games suddenly had slight frailties to monitor and anyone labouring under the impression that the former Hearts contingent in the Kilmarnock ranks would be happy to concede defeat and bolster their former employers' chances of clinching Scottish football's second Champions League place will have had those conspiracy theories quashed early doors, especially when Danny Invincibile was toppled by Christophe Berra just before half-time.

The Hearts defender was the last man and looked to have denied the Kilmarnock player a good goal-scoring opportunity. There were calls for a penalty - undermined by the fact the contact came outside the box - and a red card for the Hearts' kid. The referee, Eddie Smith, waved all protestations aside and waved play on.

If Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies and his side-kick Billy Brown were apoplectic at that point, they will have been even more disgruntled when Hearts' second goal arrived, courtesy of Berra. That was in the 87th minute and killed off any hopes the Rugby Park side off getting anything from the game and guaranteed that Hearts would be playing UEFA Cup football at the very least next term.

"I'm saying nothing or I will get myself in trouble," admitted Jefferies afterwards, making it clear that he still didn't see merit in the referee's decision.

"But Danny is an honest lad and said he got in behind the defender and his heels were clipped. But if the referee had given a free kick he would have had to send the boy off because he was through and it was a clear goal-scoring opportunity."

It was the second consecutive week of unlucky decision-making for the Rugby Park side, having been disallowed a goal at Parkhead last week as well. "There's something about the 43rd minute," bemoaned Jefferies. "Maybe I should take 43 in the lottery!"

It was Berra's first goal for the club and while he pled innocence over the clash with Invincibile, and claimed it would have been unfair if he had been ordered off, he was happy to dwell on his scoring moment. "I didn't know what to do," he said of his ecstatic goal celebrations. "I just went mental afterwards I was out of breath and thought I've still got to finish the game!'"

The goals had been a long-time in coming and from open play hadn't looked inevitable. Hearts had again started with all guns blazing, without actually giving goalkeeper Alan Combe a stern test. In six minutes Edgaras Jankauskas sent his header over the bar and four minutes later the Lithuanian striker had another go, this time from a Bruno Aguiar cut-back and when his effort was halted, Roman Bednar had a go but was off target.

Kilmarnock were having to weather it but their performance didn't convey the vulnerability of the backs-to-the-wall inevitability of Dunfermline last week. Hearts were pressing forward but the visitors have a well-organised backline, with the attacking options in front of them to ensure that no team can renege on their defensive duties without being punished.

So while Hearts produced some lovely moves, with neat, crisp interplay, flicks and feints, there was always something standing between them and the back of the net. In the 13th minute, it was Gordon Greer who cut out a Saulius Mikoliunas skelped ball across the face of goal, on other occasions it was their own profligacy. Bednar sent a shot high and wide in the 15th minute after Takis Fyssas had created the opening, and Rudi Skacel, back in the team after last week's huff, was also off target with his long-range effort in the 20th minute.

If the finishing was causing consternation in the crowd, it was the injury to Jose Goncalves in the 24th minute which prompted his withdrawal and the introduction of Ibrahim Tall and the palpitations in the crowd. Steven Pressley missed out because of a pain in the back, Andy Webster again languished on the sidelines because there has been no going back. In place of the recognised central defensive partnership was Goncalves and young Berra. But the makeshift pairings still managed to handle all that was thrown at them by the quick counter-attacking visitors.

Missing too was Julien Brellier, who was relegated further, from the bench to the stand, as Bruno Aguiar retained his place patrolling the centre of the park.

Afterwards, Hearts boss Valdas Ivanauskas refused to confirm that Webster had been dropped for any reason other than resting him and making the most of all the quality players at their disposal.

But the defender does look unlikely to feature between now and the end of the season. The display in this one, though, suggests Hearts can still maintain their second place without him.

The draw at Ibrox means the gap between the capital team and Rangers has now been stretched to five points, and Hearts still enjoy the vastly-greater goal difference. Next week they both face their greatest rivals, with Rangers at Celtic on Sunday. By then the pressure could be intense. Hibs will try to deny Hearts on the Saturday but on recent evidence, while Rangers will be depending on it, few with any sense will be betting on it.

Taken from the Scotsman