Ivanauskas to serve first ban against Hibs

INTERIM Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas will serve the first of his two-match touchline ban in Saturday's derby against Hibernian.

The Lithuanian was sent to the stand during Hearts' 1-0 loss to Celtic at Parkhead on 5 April after referee Dougie McDonald waved play on when Roman Bednar fell inside the box.

Ivanauskas was furious with the decision and was told to leave the dugout, having already been warned by McDonald for straying outside his technical area earlier in the game.

The SFA has written to the caretaker manager over the incident, but Ivanauskas has decided not to appeal. Ivanauskas, who will now rely on coach John McGlynn to get instructions across from the technical area, will also serve his ban at home to Celtic on 30 April.

Defender Steven Pressley, Jose Goncalves and Takis Fyssas are all in a race against time to be fit for Saturday's match at Easter Road.

Pressley sat out of Saturday's win over Kilmarnock with a back problem, Goncalves went off with a hamstring strain and left-back Fyssas has groin trouble.

That means Ivanauskas could call upon Jamie McAllister to fill in at left-back. Andy Webster, Ibrahim Tall and Christophe Berra are all able to play at centre-back.

Taken from the Scotsman