Sting is not Drawn

Hearts 1-1 Dunfermline
Alan Campbell at Tynecastle

EDINBURGH’S most eagerly awaited team sheet since George Best signed for Hibs indicated that appeasement may be in the air at Tynecastle.

The Riccarton Three were all given their accustomed places in the Hearts side as sporting director Eduard Malofeev became the latest unlikely figure to man the home dugout.

Dunfermline had lost their own manager, Jim Leishman, during the week, but this was completely overshadowed by Friday’s dramatic statement from Steven Pressley in which the Hearts captain, flanked by the equally solemn Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, condemned Vladimir Romanov’s interference in coaching and team matters, even if he was clever enough not to say so directly.

The owner, who is alleged to have told all the players on Friday morning that they would be sold if Hearts lost to Dunfermline yesterday, was nearly put on the spot as the Pars salvaged a point from this game and might even have taken all three.

But Romanov’s decision to include Pressley and Co also took the sting out of any supporter reaction, and in return Romanov made a point of taking his seat in the director’s box almost 30 minutes before kick-off.

The selection was always going to be far more interesting than the game, but if Romanov was forgiving, the line-up he and Malofeev chose was predictably questionable. As usual there were changes in personnel, although this time only two from last Saturday, but the big difference was a switch to 3-4-3. If this sounded more attacking, it was considerably tempered by the fact that three of the middle men were defenders.

When the Hearts team was read out just before the game, the biggest cheers were for Gordon, Pressley and Hartley – but also for Julien Brellier, back in the squad as a substitute. He was apparently outstanding in a midweek reserve game against Hibs, but Romanov’s reluctance to appreciate what the Frenchman brings to the party is just one of the reasons his interference infuriates so many.

Craig Robertson, who is holding the fort at East End Park, was a far more animated figure in the visitors’ technical area than Malofeev when the game got underway, and no wonder, as his defence looked determined to sell a goal. The Hearts support made their feelings known, chanting Pressley’s name as their side started on the front foot.

There was no discernible animosity directed towards Romanov, and nor was there the almost funereal atmosphere that prevailed when Dunfermline visited on October 22 last year, the day George Burley packed his bags after declining the two week health break offered him by the owner, and on which Valdas Ivanauskas is currently refreshing himself. There seemed instead to be relief when the politics stopped, the football started and a goal arrived to steady the home side.

Dunfermline, hammered 4-0 by Hibs on Monday night, still looked like they were in shock at the back, although at the other end Stephen Simmons had a fierce shot brilliantly saved by Gordon. But the overwhelming impression was that Hearts were going to take advantage of their opponents’ defensive nerves, and in the 11th minute they did so.

It was a scrappy goal, with a Pressley clearance from inside his own half being missed by Hartley but almost beating Roddy McKenzie as it bounced over him. The goalkeeper managed to initially retrieve the situation but the ball only reached Hartley, who set up Andrius Velicka for his fourth of the season.

There was an appetite to Hearts’ play which wasn’t matched by creative skill, but there was a marvellous moment for Pressley and the supporters midway through the half. The captain collected the ball just outside the box and made off on a Roy of the Rovers style run to the Dunfermline box before slipping it to Velicka and accepting the return. Had he scored, instead of screwing the ball wide, it would have brought Tynecastle down.

The home side had by far the best of the opening 45 minutes, and had Roman Bednar, whose form has been disappointing of late, not squandered two excellent chances near the end of the half Dunfermline would have been finished off. Instead the seeds were planted for a highly unlikely comeback.

The equaliser, which arrived before the second half had settled down, was a highly controversial one. An Owen Morrison corner was headed down by Simmons and Hamilton bundled the ball into the net.

Most people, including the referee, were unsighted, but Gordon was in no doubt that Hamilton had used his hand. He remonstrated furiously with the standside linesman George Drummond and was booked by the official’s colleague, Brian Winter, for his troubles.

Asked later, Hamilton didn’t deny that a hand could have been involved. “I don’t know – it went into the net and that’s me off the mark,” he said.

The goal raised the visitors’ confidence levels considerably and the game opened up, allowing numerous chances to be created at either end.

Deividas Cesnauskas, pushed further forward than usual and playing with greater verve than last Saturday, shot straight at McKenzie, who seemed eager to atone for his role in the opening goal, proving his mettle again when he prevented the returning Jose Goncalves from restoring Hearts’ lead.

With half an hour remaining Hearts survived a huge scare of their own when Hamilton had the ball in the net again but this time it was ruled out, and probably correctly, for offside. But Dunfermline were to have another great chance to test Romanov’s reported threat to sell his team if they lost; had Mark Burchill, unmarked in the box, not made a hash of it the last ten minutes would have been revealing.

But miss he did, and it was Hearts who nearly snatched the game at the end. Hartley had a shot deflected wide but the real saving grace for Dunfermline was a magnificent headed stop by Andy Tod on his own line from a powerfully hit Robbie Neilson shot.

With the seconds running out Pressley also had a header saved by former Hearts keeper McKenzie, but the draw was a reflection of the defender’s revelations that all is far from right at Tynecastle.

Taken from the Sunday Herald