Lack of real thrust adds to concerns

CRAIG GORDON'S continued absence, not only from the starting line-up on this occasion but also from the bench, was yet again the subject of much discussion prior to kick-off. But, after seeing their side scrape a narrow victory over Inverness, the glaring lack of any cutting edge within their ranks must surely be of equal concern to Hearts supporters.

The Scotland international watched from the stand as his side struggled to create chances against a stubborn Caley side, although new boy Laryea Kingston provided some signs of a spark in the middle of the park. But, while Steve Banks proved a capable deputy in Gordon's absence, Hearts coach Valdas Ivanauskas will appreciate more than most that he must make finding a replacement for midfield dynamo Paul Hartley a priority.

The Lithuanian raced from the dug-out punching the air in relief as much as celebration as Michal Pospisil netted a late winner just when it looked as though a lacklustre performance would see them ship two points. Ivanauskas admitted that his players were tired, physically as well as mentally and praised them for their workrate.

He conceded that Gordon has been surprised by the decision to drop him from the starting line-up but said that the keeper would only return to his side when he feels the 23-year-old is mentally fit: "The transfer window was very hard for the young boy and the speculation was not so good for him. He was affected by the speculation. Speculation is good, it is interesting but he is just young and he needs to be steady to be ready for the next games.

"He is an important player, not only for Hearts but for Scottish football. I had a discussion with him this week and we will try to find a way for him to return.

"He is Scotland's number one goalkeeper and it would not be good for him to be on the bench; it is my opinion that it is better for him to be in the stand to watch the game

"Craig has been surprised but he is our captain. He is an intelligent boy and is staying calm. He hasn't over-reacted to what has happened. He will return to the team when he is mentally ready.

"Steve made three or four fantastic saves and did very well for us."

Any worries over the continued absence of Gordon were forgotten with the game less than a minute old when Banks got down quick as a flash to turn Graham Bayne's shot away, after a long throw had been knocked into his path by defender Christophe Berra.

A cracking cross from Fyssas at the other end almost gave Edgaras Jankauskas an early opener but the former Porto striker was denied a goal when Michael Fraser hared off his line to snatch the ball away from him.

Arkadiusz Klimek was handed his debut by Valdas Ivanauskas and he showed great awareness to flick the ball into the path of Jankauskas, and the Lithuanian did well to use his strength to shield the ball with his back to goal only for referee Eddie Smith to blow for a foul against the Caley defender.

On the half-hour mark visiting defender Ross Tokely slid in with just inches to spare to send the ball over the bar from just a couple of yards after Richard Hastings had been dispossessed by Calum Elliot and the young striker skipped past Grant Munro before drilling the ball across the face of goal.

Barry Wilson must have thought he'd fired his side in front five minutes before the break when he spun on his heels to get a shot in, but again Banks was flawless, diving down to his right for a one-handed save.

Hearts produced one of the best moves of the match six minutes after the restart when Jankauskas combined with Fyssas down the left and raced outside him to take the return and then send the ball into the path of Klimek. The Pole took full benefit of a slip from Darren Dods and homed in on goal, but he couldn't cap his debut with a goal instead producing a poor effort which was never going to trouble Fraser.

Driver could have given the keeper more to think about a few minutes later but instead of teeing-up Jankauskas opted to have a go himself and fired wide, much to his team-mate's disgust.

Jankauskas was replaced by Roman Bednar shortly after and he too could have broken the deadlock, this time when Laryea Kingston lofted the ball into the box but the substitute got himself under the ball and could only send it high over the bar. Just when it seemed time was against them though, Hearts made the breakthrough with eight minutes remaining and it took Pospisil just two touches to claim it.

The Czech frontman had only been on the park for a matter of seconds but he made an immediate impact when he sent a header down and into the net from Andy Driver's cross.

Opportunities may have been hard to come by but Hearts should have been handed one on a plate in the dying seconds when they were denied what looked a clear penalty when Darren Dods felled Julien Brellier in the box. Smith however ended his afternoon the way he had begun it, by infuriating the Jambos supporters as he waved away their claims.

It may not have been the most inspiring of displays in which to take his first-team bow but Klimek believes his aerial threat can bolster Hearts' chances of retaining second spot in the SPL this season. Klimek already has a good knowledge of the game in this country having watched matches on television in both Lithuania and his native Poland because of interest in Maciej Zurawski and Artur Boruc at Celtic. However the striker insists he is his own man and said: "I was in Scotland for one month before playing against Inverness and watched four matches before the weekend so I felt that I was prepared mentally for the struggle on the pitch. I hope that I will be good for the team and do well over here because I am physical and because I am strong in the air.

"I know of Maciej Zurawski and Boruc but I am not following anybody, all I want to do is perform to my best and see how it goes.

"During my time in Lithuania I got a lot of information about Hearts and Scotland because a lot of the matches were shown on television. There is also big coverage in Poland because of the Polish players who are over here."

Caley manager Charlie Christie admitted that the absence of Gordon, not only from the starting line-up but also the bench, had given his side a boost - until they saw Banks produce that fine save just seconds after kick-off.

He said: "Craig Gordon has played very well against us in the past, but then you look at Steve Banks who made a magnificent save after just a minute. Craig might not have got to that, you never know.

"They've got good players, no matter who is out there and I was particularly impressed by their new lad in the middle, Layrea Kingston. He did well and bossed us a wee bit. Fair play to them, I think their game plan was to stop us playing at all costs because they had a big aerial threat and physical threat.

"Even their goal wasn't as a result of any super play, it was a ball into the box and we got out-muscled and that was disappointing from our point of view.

"We were disappointed with the way we played. I thought that as the game petered out, if anyone was going to score, it wasn't going to be us. That's the poorest we have played in a very long time.

"Their goalkeeper had a great save very early in the game but after that we didn't create a great amount, although to be fair neither did Hearts. There was a very physical aspect to the game and very little football played from either side.

"I genuinely felt that, the way we have been playing, we had a chance of going to Tynecastle and getting a win, but Hearts worked very hard."

Taken from the Scotsman