Korobochka calms the storm

Motherwell 0
Hearts 2

OUTSIDE Fir Park, the incessant Lanarkshire rain lambasted the waiting Park's of Hamilton coach. Seated at the front, Anatoli Korobochka was deep in thought. He had just seen his maiden outing as interim head coach of Hearts bring a victory that was as essential as it was encouraging.

Three points, two goals and a clean sheet combine as not a bad evening's work despite the appalling weather conditions. Korobochka would have been acutely aware of this as he returned east with his squad last night. Having only begun deputising for Valdas Ivanauskas on Friday, the Russian couldn't have expected a better beginning to his reign than a win which brings Hearts back level with Aberdeen in the race for European football. The captivating influence of Laryea Kingston on proceedings was a pivotal reason for his quiet satisfaction.

The Ghanaian twice executed goal-line clearances and supplied crosses of pinpoint accuracy for both goals, leaving Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas somewhat flummoxed: "We created all the chances but Hearts scored the two goals. They put two crosses into our box and we failed to defend them. We lost 2-0 but it's us who had the opportunities and us who were camped in their half."

Korobochka, were he fluent in English, would doubtless have had a different assertion to offer on the 90 minutes, and in particular about the combination of a new midfield pairing in Kingston and Linas Pilibaitis. Instead, assistant coach Stevie Frail was in place to communicate the feelings of the visiting management team.

"It's a great three points. We were without Mikoliunas, Bednar, Neilson, McCann and Brellier, and these guys are big losses for us," said Frail. "To go to Motherwell and get that result is very pleasing. The managerial changes haven't affected us because myself, Jim Stewart and the rest of the backroom staff have just been working away since the St Mirren game to get ready for this one.

"Anatoli has come in, offered his advice and his influence, but there has been no disruption. I didn't pick the team but I did have an influence in it because Anatoli likes to sit down and discuss who will be playing. I'm sure Anatoli will give me my input but ultimately his is the final word because he is head coach. I think he is content to stand back a little, which is nice of him because he can really do what he wants as head coach. Hopefully this arrangement can work well between now and the end of the season."

The initial signs are promising. Last night's wasn't a vintage Hearts performance and occasionally luck was ridden, but the patience shown by Korobochka's side under intense pressure at times was indicative of the Russian's pensive and authoritative manner. The controlled approach is likely to be commonplace at Hearts matches for the remainder of the season.

Last night's rain and swirling winds were never conducive to open, attractive football, but both teams began with intent. Nine of Hearts' 18-man match squad were under the age of 21, with the starting 11 detailing five changes from the club's last outing at St Mirren. The alterations brought SPL debuts for Kestutis Ivaskevicius and Pilibaitis. The touch and awareness of the latter was instantly detectable in midfield, but much of Motherwell's early focus centred around Calum Elliot following his loan spell at Fir Park earlier this season. The teenager suffered the particularly physical exertions of his former colleagues, although referee Stuart Dougal did intervene to offer some protection. Tackles by Brian Kerr and Stephen Craigan incurred cautions, but in an effort to redress the balance Dougal also took the name of Ivaskevicius for a less than ferocious challenge.

The first serious threat to either goal arrived via the right boot of the impressive Pilibaitis, who struck a hazardous-looking effort wide after 20 minutes. This seemed to jolt the hosts into a response and minutes later Jim Paterson was rounding Craig Gordon from Danny Murphy's incisive pass, but the goalkeeper's diving right arm propelled the ball against the Motherwell striker before trickling out of play at the goal line.

Kingson and Pilibaitis displayed an instant rapport in central midfield in what was their first game together. The Lithuanian internationalist's loan move from FBK Kaunas looks, on first evidence, a shrewd piece of business by Vladimir Romanov, but Kerr and his Hungarian associate Kristian Vadocz continually challenged the Tynecastle pair for the orchestrator's baton.

As the first half progressed Andy Driver evolved as an effective attacking outlet for Hearts on the left flank. After striking a loose ball over Graeme Smith's goal, he stung the palms of the former Rangers goalkeeper and from the resultant corner the visitors moved ahead. Kingston's textbook delivery to the near post allowed Ibrahim Tall to rise and calmly glance the ball into the net, prompting modest celebrations from Korobochka and Frail on the substitutes' bench.

"I was actually shouting for Kingston not to take the corner because he had two free-kicks just prior to that which were horrendous," admitted Frail. "I was trying to get Andy Driver to take it but then he goes and puts that cross in and Ibrahim gets his goal."

The first half concluded with Hearts ahead in a rather even encounter. Minutes after the restart, Kingston's lofted ball eluded the home defence on its way to the chest of substitute Michal Pospisil, who had replaced the insipid Edgaras Jankauskas during the interval. His control took him on towards Smith's goal but the Czech slipped a left-footed shot wide. Vadocz, who was also making his debut, then executed a cleanly-struck volley from Paterson's headed knockdown but Gordon remained untroubled as he gathered the ball. The Scotland goalkeeper had Kingston to thank for keeping his goal intact in the 57th minute during sustained Motherwell pressure. Kevin McBride, an interval replacement following a back injury to Kerr, swept a corner towards Hearts' six-yard line and Clarkson's downward header would have restored parity but Kingston lashed the ball clear at the far post. Nine minutes later, Malpas saw his side punished for their profligacy.

Kingston was again the architect with a cross from beside the corner flag on Hearts' right. Elliot bravely threw himself in ahead of Craigan for a glanced header which careered off the Motherwell captain and the underside of the crossbar on its way over the line. The teenager, having scored only twice during his four-month loan at Fir Park earlier this season, was quick to show his delight.

The two-goal cushion visibly eased Hearts, and there was time for another Lithuanian debutant when Tomas Kancelskis replaced Tall. The closing stages were not without moments of consternation, or drama, however. A lofted cross was dropped by Gordon but Marius Zaliukas was alert to clear the bouncing ball. It must be said that the Lithuanian's second-half display easily eclipsed his efforts of the opening period when Motherwell's speedy forward line left him clearly perturbed.

Kingston was required to clear off the line again on 86 minutes when Mark Reynolds' shot eluded Gordon, and home frustration was responsible for a dangerous late challenge by Ross McCormack on the Hearts goalkeeper.

Driver wouldn't have been content with ending the night on the disappointing note of wasting a clear one-on-one with Smith, but by the time the Englishman was chipping his weak shot straight at the goalkeeper in the 94th minute the result was not in doubt. Korobochka may have chosen to overlook that misdemeanour in light of the victory. After all, he had plenty to occupy his pensive mind for the coach journey home.

Taken from the Scotsman