Another crisis for Hearts

Valdas Ivanauskas was a beleaguered man yesterday as he confronted the inevitable interrogation about his future following Hearts' consecutive defeats by St Mirren and Sparta Prague. The first sign that the Tynecastle coach was in bunker mentality came when he gave answers during his pre-match briefing for tomorrow's encounter with Motherwell at Fir Park in his native tongue.

"Where does this question come from?" he demanded, when asked about the likelihood of being sacked by Vladimir Romanov, the club's owner, who removed two managers last season and who has already dismissed Ivanauskas when he was coach at Kaunas. "If you want to know what Vladimir Romanov thinks you should ask him directly.

"We have discussed the game against Sparta and he is similarly upset. We now we want to concentrate on the match against Motherwell."

Nevertheless, the sense that Hearts have reached yet another crisis in the periodic sequence which has become familiar under the Romanov regime was corroborated by the Tynecastle captain, Steven Pressley, when he said: "I talked numerous times last season about the need for stability at this football club.

"After last season, the expectation levels have increased. The Old Firm have lived with that pressure for years and we have to prove that this football club can live with that too.

"We have some big characters in the dressing room who have to make sure that we get our season back on track. Make no mistake, the Motherwell game has become a huge one for us now."

It is hardly any less so for Motherwell, who have been unable to lift themselves from the bottom spot since the start of the season. Maurice Malpas, who succeed Terry Butcher during the summer, appealed to his players to make Fir Park "a fortress" was followed by a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Inverness Caley Thistle last week.

"I have no doubt in the team's ability or my ability," Malpas said. "As usual, the media have gone over the top but they are doing their job and I will do my job."

Malpas cannot use Calum Elliot, the forward on loan from Tynecastle, against Hearts, who will have Julien Brellier, Saulius Mikoliunas and Neil McCann bacik after suspension.

The Celtic defender, Mark Wilson, will be out for six weeks after he broke a foot in the Champions League meeting with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, whose players are at home to Dunfermline Athletic today, said: "In terms of camaraderie and team spirit, Mark epitomises that as he played for 20 minutes with such an injury."

Celtic have concerns about the other three defenders who played against United as they go in against a Dunfermline side who were the only team to beat them at home last season.

Sasa Papac, Rangers' last signing of the transfer window, will probably start against Hibernian at Easter Road tomorrow, perhaps filling in for Steven Smith if the full-back is struggling after the midweek goalless Uefa Cup draw with Molde in Norway. Hibs have Scott Brown back from injury.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk