BESLIJA READY FOR BLAST-OFF

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS believes Hearts are about to see the best of Mirsad Beslija.

The Bosnian winger went a way to proving his worth to the Jambos as he stole the show in the 4-0 win over Dundee United at Tynecastle.

Beslija set up two of the goals as Hearts shrugged off their Euro hangover to consolidate second spot in the SPL.

Strikes by Andrius Velicka, Juho Makela, Paul Hartley and Jamie Mole condemned United to their third defeat of the season after Ivanauskas made six changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Sparta Prague.

Record signing Beslija has been a bit-part player since moving from Racing Genk in January and threatened to quit in the summer if he wasn't a regular by Christmas.

Now the Tynecastle boss is set to play him more often - so long as he keeps turning in the sort of performance that kept Hearts within three points of league leaders Celtic.

Ivanauskas said: "I understand Mirsad's position because he has not been playing regularly for Hearts and he has done that with his other clubs.

"He has had to wait for his chance but today he took it and this was his best performance for the club. Mirsad has real quality and has worked hard in every game and in training.

"Everyone at Hearts has a big future if they work hard and are ready to fight for their place and Mirsad is one of those players."

Hartley, who scored his 15th penalty on the trot for Hearts after Beslija was fouled in the box late on, said: "That's 12 goals in our last five matches and we've conceded only once - so things are going well and we're starting to get the bit between our teeth again."

Dundee United boss Craig Brewster was unhappy after Noel Hunt had a goal ruled offside early on as his team dominated.

Linesman Tom Murphy raised his flag as Hunt knocked the ball into the net after Craig Gordon pulled off a stunning stop from a Stuart Duff header.

Brewster said: "We were very good in the first 30 minutes and I still can't believe that goal was disallowed.

"Our performance was excellent but the result was a nightmare. However, these things happen when you don't score - or you score but it's disallowed."

Ivanauskas defended his rotation policy as well as his side's physical conditioning after they netted twice late in the game to add to their first-half efforts.

He said: "I heard about some negative reactions to our fitness after the game in Prague but it's perfect.

"It was not a risk to make so many changes as there are high spirits in our squad as well as quality players.

"After we scored the second the match was over."

Taken from the Daily Record