Hearts 1 - 1 Gretna

While it's just little over a year since Hearts and Gretna memorably met in the 2006 Scottish Cup final, one could understand Hearts' reluctance to draw attention to that aspect of Saturday's reunion.

Memories of that season are, after all, proving increasing bittersweet in Gorgie, largely as they inevitably lead to unflattering comparisons with a side now without a win in three Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches.

On Saturday, only the scoreline at a sodden Tynecastle bore any resemblance to that May afternoon at Hampden. There was certainly nothing on the field to evoke memories of the Hearts of Steven Pressley, Craig Gordon, Paul Hartley and Rudi Skacel; a side that, prior to its implosion, seemed capable of challenging the Old Firm duopoly.

Afterwards, a despondent Stephen Frail, left, spoke of his side "still having the quality to put a sustained challenge in to Celtic and Rangers", but in truth only succeeded in making himself seem detached from reality. Hearts may look set to sign Anthony Basso, the 28-year-old Auxerre goalkeeper, after he trained with the club yesterday, but they still appear to lack the quality required.

It was a truly miserable day for Frail on Saturday. As fans raged against a 4-5-1 formation, the Hearts coach entered into an angry exchange with one supporter demanding the introduction of a strike partner for the isolated Andrius Velicka.

"I should have reacted better than I did," Frail conceded. "I shouldn't be shouting back at fans because they pay good money and are entitled to their opinion."

Just as concerning was the suspicion that Frail did, in fact, share the fan's frustration, such were his increasingly exasperated looks towards Anatoly Korobochka and Angel Chervenkov in the directors' box.

"Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get through with the translations, and it's not ideal - you can see that for yourself," he admitted. "A guy in my position does not have carte blanche to make substitutions. Speeding up communication is something we possibly need to look at but it's not the only problem, it's one of a few."

There seemed to be little method behind the madness of sending out a lone striker against a Gretna side that had conceded eight goals in their opening two league matches.

Gretna, as Frail admitted afterwards, were well worthy of their first SPL point, with the addition of Aurelien Collin, formerly of Real Mallorca, key to shoring up the defence. The bulky 21-year-old's distribution was erratic at times, but he was dominant in the air and should cope with the physical demands of the Scottish game.

But Hearts hardly gave the Frenchman a baptism of fire, with Velicka scuffing wide from three yards the game's first real chance midway through the half and Ruben Palazuelos then unable to convert Kestutis Ivaskevicius's cross.

Laryea Kingston was introduced at the interval to bring some urgency and creativity to Hearts' midfield, but the Ghanaian looked stifled in a deep-lying role, leaving fellow half-time substitute Andrew Driver to provide some spark further up the park.

His superb 73rd-minute opener - a looping volley arced home from 20 yards - looked, as if it would be enough to hand Hearts a first win of the season. But six minutes later, Fabian Yantorno's floated free-kick seemed to elude everyone before sneaking in off the inside of the post, although Craig Barr was later credited with having applied a slight but telling nod.

Taken from the Herald