Elvis in the comeback special

Inverness CT 0
Hearts 0

VLADIMIR ROMANOV has told the fans that Steven Pressley was the cement holding this Hearts team together.

Now it's the Lithuanian owner's turn to try to bring some unity but he will have to do better than simply papering over the cracks which have appeared in the club during the past few months.

The captain's reinstatement to the side was imperative in Romanov's quest to regain popularity after growing unrest among the Hearts support, and Paul Hartley and Robbie Neilson also joined their captain in the starting line-up.

Publicity stunt or not, that move certainly appeased both the players and the supporters. But there's no doubt the self-inflicted off-field turmoil has transferred onto the park and it will take Romanov and returning head coach Valdas Ivanauskas a combination of time and hard work if they are to repair the damage which has been done.

Saturday's draw with Inverness extended Hearts' winless run to eight games and the fear now is that Romanov may have left it too late for the team which last season provided the SPL with its most entertaining league campaign in years, sparked real hopes that a team outwith the Old Firm could challenge for the title, and also won the Scottish Cup.

Pressley's return is the first step in the right direction. It is also perhaps the first sign that Romanov has finally realised the old adage "no one man is bigger than a football club" is something that still rings true.

The fact that Pressley was willing to sacrifice his own career by standing up to the Lithuanian to secure the long-term future of Hearts meant this was a popularity contest Romanov was never going to win.

Christophe Berra, who retained his place in the heart of defence beside his captain, admitted he was delighted to have his mentor back in the starting line-up. Despite his disappointment at failing to pick up the three points, he is hoping that the return of Pressley is a sign of better things to come for the Tynecastle side.

Berra, pictured below right, said: "Elvis is such an experienced player, a great player, and anyone would want him in their side.

"He did a great job against Inverness and that is what you expect from him - he is just so consistent.

"He is a really good player. I have learned a lot from him and I think it is good for the club that he is back in the team. Hopefully it will be the start of better things to come for the club.

"The back four did well, they have all played together before. No offence to Ibrahim Tall or Marius Zaliukas, because when they have played they have done exceptionally well and it was maybe a bit harsh on them that I stayed in the side and they didn't, but that is football.

"No matter what happens at the club, I think Hearts have always had a good solid defence and I think that's something to build on.

"We will go to St Mirren maybe a wee bit more positive than maybe we have been in the last couple of weeks and looking for all three points. Sometimes things just don't go your way, that's what happened on Saturday. But we kept a clean sheet and for me that's a positive thing to take from the game after the things that have been going on."

Ivanauskas and Romanov watched this game from the stand, with the former resuming his role of head coach today.

Berra added: "It's very good that Valdas is back, I have got so much respect for him, I think he is a great manager. The boys are looking forward to him being back."

Saul Mikoliunas was jeered by sections of his own support when he came off the bench against Rangers last weekend but he was back in Eduard Malofeev's starting line-up and, within just 60 seconds of the kick-off, produced a brilliant diagonal pass to set Paul Hartley free.

The Scotland midfielder hared away after it and fired in an effort on the angle from the edge of the box but it flew high over the bar.

The first half didn't provide much in the way of entertainment for the supporters who had made the long journey north by train, plane or automobile and the deteriorating weather conditions didn't make it any more pleasant, although Craig Gordon denied both Grant Munro and Barry Wilson within minutes of each other.

The save from Wilson was yet another to add to the scrap book, the keeper stretching every sinew in his body to reach the midfielder's powerful low drive and turn it past the post.

The home side enjoyed the bulk of the early chances and Ian Black came even closer when his header came back off the bar and then former Hearts striker Dennis Wyness sent a glorious chance over the bar from just six yards when it looked easier to put the ball in the back of the net.

Only Darren Dods denied Hearts a goal after the break, Nerijus Barasa cutting the ball back for Miko but the big defender was in the right place at the right time, turning his body away from the fierce drive but still managing to block.

Hartley could have snatched all three points for Hearts in the dying minutes when he drilled in a right-foot effort but Caley keeper Mark Brown pulled off a stunning save low to his left with one hand to turn the ball round the post.

However Inverness boss Charlie Christie felt that Gordon had been the difference between the two sides. The Tynecastle keeper had again proved his worth with vital blocks from and said: "Gordon came here last season and broke our hearts in the second half of a 0-0 draw and I think that he showed yet again why he is number one in this country by a fair bit.

"But for us to peg Hearts back for such long periods of the second half was very pleasing.

"It surprised us a bit that they played five in midfield because they have been playing the big two up front of late and we were maybe a bit surprised that they didn't play the young lad Mole up front because he has been doing well of late, he played against us at Tynecastle."

Taken from the Scotsman