Hartley kept in credit by Banks

ON A day when the off-field shenanigans at Tynecastle again grabbed all the headlines, the travelling supporters returned to the capital relieved that three valuable points were gained against a confident Dundee United.

The fans' concerns centred on the absence from the starting line-up of international goalkeeper Craig Gordon, one of three dressing-room dissidents disciplined for speaking out against the Tynecastle regime.

While Gordon was consigned to the bench and fears persisted among the Hearts supporters that the affair might overshadow the happenings on the pitch, it looked for long spells as if Hearts would be fortunate to take something from this game.

A Paul Hartley penalty early in the second half, however, was enough to keep Hearts' hopes alive of a high enough finish in the Premierleague to take them back into European football next term.

Their cause was helped enormously by the performance of Steven Banks, Gordon's stand-in and a goalkeeper with only a couple of walk-on credits before yesterday.

The unwanted attention on Banks was predictable but it did pose the question: how would he cope with the pressure?

The answer was that he produced an overall excellent performance that would probably have him as a first-choice keeper in most of the other Premierleague clubs, a fact emphasised by two late stops from Barry Robson free-kicks which were quite outstanding.

Valdas Ivanauskas, the Tynecastle chief coach, said he was pleased by his team's fighting performance. It was one small step in a long, hard road.

"Today, was a good team show," he added, "and I am happy and 100% pleased with the fighting spirit because there was big pressure on us in the last 15 or 20 minutes.

"Dundee United have been winning and it is not an easy place to come to. The three points for us is most important."

Banks was certainly tested more than he would have cared for in a niggling first half in which we wondered how long it would be before referee Charlie Richmond flashed a yellow card.

But Banks settled by saving shots from David Robertson and David Goodwillie, though there was still concern on the visitors' bench at the number of times the United attack managed to breach their defence.

Barry Robson marshalled his troops and urged them on a fourth successive win for the Tannadice team for the first time since 1996 - when they beat Rangers, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a row.

It was the Tynecastle side, however, that came within a whisker of scoring after United's Lee Mair had clumsily pulled down Andrius Velicka at the corner flag, a foul for which he was booked, in the 27th minute.

Hartley's low free-kick across goal was intercepted by Marius Zaliukas. Incredibly, however, his close-range shot was stopped by the acrobatic Derek Stillie to save United.

As the home side raced upfield, Craig Conway was presented with the best of opportunities to put his side ahead after Collin Samuel's perfectly placed ball fell for him just six yards from goal with Banks having been sucked to the near post. Incredibly, the youngster scooped the ball high over the bar from six yards.

It was Stillie who was called upon once more to prevent the visitors taking the lead with 30 seconds of the start of the second 45 minutes. The United keeper spotted the danger as Michel Popisil and Velicka worked a neat move in the box and spread his body to block the former's shot.

Nonetheless, Stillie was left helpless in the 55th minute after Hearts were awarded a penalty kick.

Stuart Duff had handled a header from Takis Fyssas and Hartley duly stepped up to bullet the ball home from the spot. It gave the men from Gorgie a much-needed lift and, for the first time during this game, prompted some familiar songs and chants from the travelling Edinburgh fans.

But, after Pospisil found himself with yet another opportunity with only Stillie to beat, he dragged his shot wide to leave United still with a fighting chance of rescuing a point.

They almost did that courtesy of Robson, whose 25-yard free-kick rattled the Hearts crossbar and saw Banks injured as he fell awkwardly.

Thankfully for all concerned in the Hearts dugout, the magic sponge did the trick and there was no requirement for Gordon to enter the fray.

As if to confirm he had shaken off any pain, Banks then proceeded to save his side with a spectacular diving save, again from a Robson blockbuster of a free-kick.

Then, with a couple of minutes left, Christophe Berra stepped in to head a Robson head flick off the line. It was not to be United's day.

Taken from the Sunday Herald