Glum-faced Valdas reflects his team's boring style of play

MICHAL POSPISIL'S late goal might have earned Hearts a welcome three points but there was little to admire about the performance. Then again, there isn't a great deal to revere at the Edinburgh outfit these days.

Anyone unfortunate enough to be at Tynecastle on Saturday saw football at its dullest and most unimaginative. This was football the Lithuanian way - bland and boring.

The flair and attacking pizzazz of George Burley's exciting side has long since been eradicated by Vladimir Romanov, who has systematically destroyed everything that was good about this once proud institution.

Rudi Skacel, Paul Hartley and Steven Pressley have all gone while Craig Gordon, one of the best keepers in Europe, is no longer even deemed good enough for a place on the bench.

We were told afterwards by coach Valdas Ivanauskas, who continues to be operated from the back by Mad Vlad, that Gordon's omission was for his own good.

Yet the whole sorry charade which is b eing played out every week at Tynecastle is not doing anybody any good, least of all Scotland's No.1.

Gordon's continued inactivity is detrimental to all concerned because while Romanov may be desperate to sell the club's most sellable asset his value will only decrease if he's not playing.

It just doesn't make any sense although nothing that goes on at Hearts these days does.

With each passing week the supporters are becoming more and more baffled by team selection and tactics.

Against Inverness at the weekend there were six changes to the starting line-up from the team that exited the Scottish Cup the previous week at Dunfermline.

There was a surprise recall for Julien Brellier and a shock demotion for Neil McCann, who has performing well in central midfield and captained the side at East End Park.

Arkadiusz Klimek - the latest in a conveyer belt of recruits from Lithuanian side FB Kaunas - was also handed his debut against the Highlanders.

The lumbering striker from Poland, who was wittily described by one press-room colleague as Maciej Zurawski's dad, started up front alongside the equally towering Edgaras Jankauskas.

The game plan was clear as Hearts lumped long balls to the pair, who were as subtle as Jade Goody's mum only less attractive.

It was torture to watch and prompted the home support to seek their own entertainment as they regularly chanted the names of Gordon and Hartley.

Hearts struggled to construct a worthwhile attack in an instantly forgettable first half which rendered Caley Thistle keeper Michael Fraser redundant.

At the other end Steven Banks pulled off two decent stops to deny Graham Bayne, who should have scored, and Barry Wilson.

After the break the f ayre wasn't much b etter and Hearts looked odds-on to draw a blank for the third consecutive match.

However, eight minutes from time sub stitute Michal Pospisil scored with his first touch after replacing the ineffective Klimek.

The Czech hitman had been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he headed home Andrew Driver's cross at the back post to hand Hearts an ill- deserved victory.

On the touchline the increasingly agitated Ivanauskas heaved a huge sigh of relief because he knew fine well that Pospisil's strike might just have saved him from the sack.

However, while Ivanauskas rejoiced there was no sign of the man who axed predecessors John Robertson, George Burley and Graham Rix.

Romanov was again conspicuous by his absence in the Tynecastle directors' b ox and it's now four months since he was last sighted watching his team in action.

The Lithuanian businessman's last appearance came in the corresponding fixture at Inverness on November 25 last year, yet his influence continues to permeate every facet of the Tynecastle club.

Even during the post-match press conference you get the impression Ivanauskas is only saying exactly what his paymaster and control-freak boss wants him to.

Indeed, how else can you decipher his explanation of Gordon's continued spell in exile.

Ivanauskas said: "It's maybe a surprise for him, but he's an intelligent boy. He's stayed calm which is good.

"I had a discussion with him last week. It's just business, it's not my opinion. I think he is a very good keeper."

Asked when Gordon would be back in the team Ivanauskas said: "Maybe next week. He will definitely play again.

"I think he has been affected by all the speculation surrounding him during the transfer window.It's not good for him to be on the pitch as he needs to relax."

Well, at least that's cleared up then. Ivanauskas was his usual morose self as he conveyed Romanov's message to the press although there must be something in the water at Tynecastle as counterpart Charlie Christie wore the same glum expression when he addressed the media.

The normally upbeat Inverness boss was less than impressed by his team's display.

Christie said: "I'm very disappointed as that's the worst we have played this year. I thought the game was going to peter out into a draw.

"That's the fewest chances we've created for a long time although Hearts didn't create many either.

"We looked like the Caley of old when we first came into the SPL. We were more content lumping the ball than passing it and we are better than that now.

"Hearts still have some quality in their team and they were very physical. We basically got out-muscled."

MAN OF THE MATCH Roy McBain (Inverness)

Taken from the Daily Record