Pressley demands consistency in selection to stabilise Hearts

STEVEN Pressley called for greater consistency of selection by Hearts after this, their first home defeat of the season. But, while that is a problem that needs to be addressed, it was not the one which cost the Edinburgh club this match.

Hearts created a dozen or so decent goal-scoring chances, but were thwarted by the excellent goalkeeping of Tony Bullock, and on a couple of occasions by the refusal of Dougie McDonald to award them a penalty.

Roman Bednar, who had the strongest claim when he was held back in the box by Kirk Broadfoot, was red-carded after the final whistle, apparently for protesting too vehemently to the referee. "He obviously felt hard done by," Pressley said of the Czech striker. "He's a young player and a terrific prospect, but you have to learn sometimes that you have to take your medicine. Over the 90 minutes we carved out enough chances."

Bednar excepted, Pressley and his team-mates accepted it was one of those games which happen from time to time. Though far from ideal preparation for Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Sparta Prague, it was not, insisted the home captain, going to provoke too much soul-searching.

"What we must look at is a similar time last season, when Celtic lost 1-0 at home to Dunfermline yet still went on to win the championship," said Pressley. "These are types of games we're well aware we have to win. It's something we have to address, but we're certainly not panicking.

"A loss prior to the Thursday game is not exactly ideal preparation, but I have a great deal of confidence and I believe that come Thursday we'll be ready and we'll get a result.

"We've got to look for the right reaction on Thursday. It's a great opportunity for us to progress to the group stages and maintain a UEFA Cup interest towards Christmas. We were in it two years ago and it was a great experience, so we desperately want to do it again."

There are, however, two notable differences between the present Hearts team and the one which played in those group stages. This side has far more talent: the team two seasons ago was more tight-knit and reliable. The pluses and minuses of that comparison have been in evidence already this season. At their best, as against Celtic and, for a time, Inverness Caley Thistle, the Hearts of 2006 play with a sweeping flamboyance which the 2004 side could not manage. That side, however, was more robust, and more accustomed to grinding out results.

This season, Hearts have yet to turn in two really good back-to-back performances, and have dropped five points from four home matches. They do need to take off on a good run, and Pressley for one believes that a settled line-up is the way to achieve that.

"You need to get the right balance. Yes, you do need freshness at times, but you need an element of consistency to your selection.

"If you look back to last season when we had that run of victories, the team pretty much picked itself bar one or two players. I think it's important we get back to more consistent selection in the team."

Or at least, consistency of selection is fine provided you select the right players. Saulius Mikoliunas, for example, is invariably on the team sheet, despite giving away possession as often as he finds a team-mate.

Mikoliunas had one good run at the visiting defence, and was on the edge of the box when he went down under a challenge. It summed up Hearts' day, however, that all he got for his pains was a booking for simulation.

The pattern of the game had already become apparent by then, with Bullock having saved well from the Lithuanian and from Pressley. The goalkeeper kept up the fine form throughout, barring one occasion when he was left stranded as Bednar went past him - but even then John Potter got back to clear off the line.

The introduction of Mauricio Pinilla with half an hour to play invigorated Hearts, but the longer St Mirren kept a clean sheet, the more confident they became. Their goal came when John Sutton put Craig Molloy through, and the substitute's shot was blocked by Craig Gordon only to fall into the path of Stewart Kean, who netted from a few yards out.

Hearts continued to press, and Bednar and Takis Fyssas had chances to equalise late on. By the time the fourth official showed four minutes additional time would be played, though, it had become apparent that Bullock would be able to keep the home team out for another 40 minutes if necessary.

"I'm very pleased with myself," the goalkeeper said after the points were finally secured. "To be fair, we rode our luck a couple of times, but our confidence grew towards the end.

"We've got a great work ethic and a great team spirit. As individuals we're not the best players in the world, but our team spirit and the way we go about our business are second to none."

Hearts could do with finding some of that spirit before they take the field at Murrayfield this week. If it remains intact it will ensure St Mirren stay in the SPL.

Taken from the Scotsman