Elvis fails to lift Hearts to victory

STEVEN Pressley received a thunderous welcome from the travelling fans when he returned to his proud duty as skipper of Hearts yesterday.

Unfortunately for Elvis, who had the captaincy torn away from him for daring to question the wisdom of club owner Vladimir Romanov, there wasn't too much to smile about as Hearts run without a win stretched to eight games.

They were pushed all the way by a tenacious Inverness Caley who might not be the most glamorous side in the SPL but whatever they do lack in sexy names they more than make up for that in grit and endeavour.

In fact had it not been for Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Hearts could well have lost this one although a draw was about right.

It was vital that Hearts delivered the goods given the turmoil which has ripped through the club under the hugely controversial, often mystifying, charge of Romanov.

Mr Romanov's seafaring career as a submariner on K47 has been well documented but there has been a growing fear that, under his control for the last 21 months, Hearts are heading ever closer to the rocks.

But at least this week we have seen a certain degree of stability return to Tynecastle, with Valdas Ivanauskas restored to head coach duties after taking time off for stress-related problems which led to him recuperating back home in Lithuania. Ivanauskas sat in the stand yesterday, taking in the action, as did Romanov who flew back into Scotland with Ivanauskas on Friday and held a meeting with a fans' group at Tynecastle in the evening.

But the biggest cheer was reserved for Pressley, back in the team, back as skipper, after sitting out the last two games follwing his coming out publicly to voice his concerns at the way the club was being run.

When the players came out, Pressley was about eight yards ahead of the rest as he ran on to the field and how the fans voiced their appreciation at their skipper's return to duty. It was just like old times with the Scottish contingent of Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley, Robbie Neilson and Pressley doing what they do best and that's working for the Jambos' cause.

With not one victory to show for their last seven outings, it is plain to see how all the furore, on and off the field, has affected the confidence and the balance of a team which so far has been a shadow of the fiery outfit which managed to split the Old Firm last season.

Despite the problems which have been eating away at the team's morale, Hearts started off in bright fashion against a Caley side who are invariably very difficult to beat under the determined stewardship of Charlie Christie.

As early as the first minute Hartley made himself space on the right but his shot, from the right side of the box, sailed over the crossbar.

Inverness, however, are no mugs and their response was swift as a Russell Duncan free-kick found Craig Dargo and the striker's volley was tipped over by Scotland goalkeeper Gordon. It would have all been for nothing in any case as the linesman had already flagged for offside. Still, it underlined the threat presented by the home side.

There was further evidence of the Christie's team's potential to inflict damage in the 25th minute and the warning came from the right boot of Barry Wilson whose 18-yard strike was blocked for a corner by Gordon.

Within the space of a few seconds Caley skipper Darren Dods let fly with drive from 16 yards but but his effort was deflected past Gordon's right post for another corner.

A Wilson free kick, lobbed deep into the box, was nodded across goal and, with Hearts fluttering, the ball broke to Wyness but the danger was mopped up by Gordon who dived at his feet.

Hearts were living dangerously and a superb Richard Hastings cross, delivered from the right, was met by the head of Ian Black but Gordon pushed the ball into the air before safely collecting it.

If the weather had been kind in the lead up to the kick off, it took a turn for the worse at half time with the rain driving on to the pitch.

Hearts, for sure, knew they would have to inject a lot more into the tempo if they were going to leave Inverness with anything rather than a feeling of frustration.

Hartley did his level best to create an opening shortly after the interval when he fired the ball into the box from the left flank but unfortunately for him it flew just too far forward for team-mate Andrius Velicka to make any contact with his sliding boot.

Then the ball broke to Saulius Mikoliunas deep inside the Caley penalty box and, quick as a flash, he responded by blasting towards goal only to watch his effort cannon off the lunging Darren Dods.

But it was just not happening for Hearts and they made their first change of the afternoon in the 68th minute, bringing on Lee Wallace for Takis Fyssas.

By now in the proceedings you had that gut feeling that one goal from either team would be sufficient to wrap up the points and they almost fell to Dargo who latched on to a corner from substitute Richie Hart only to see his header mopped up comfortably by the ultra-safe hands of Gordon.

Hart was clearly in the mood to make a name for himself and he was not far off with a rasping drive which had the Hearts fans breathing a collective sigh of relief.

In the end there was also relief when the referee sounded the final whistle. It was poor stuff all round, as both sides slipped further behind second spot.

Taken from the Scotsman