Stewart left to face press after defeat

KILMARNOCK 3 Wales (55) Nish (pen 72) Gibson (77)

HEARTS 1 Tall (90)
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SHAME on the Hearts hierarchy for sending Michael Stewart into the lion's den to offer an explanation for the team's latest shambolic performance.

No member of the management and coaching team had the courage or courtesy to attend the post-match media conference to discuss Christian Nade's red card and Stephen Frail's banishment to the stand, among several issues.

Not only was this in clear contravention of SPL guidelines, it was also disrespectful to the club's supporters whose patience is once again being sorely tried by events at Tynecastle.

Those who help fill Vladimir Romanov's ample coffers are entitled to answers but none were forthcoming from those responsible for electing to adopt a brain-numbing 4-5-1 formation. And it was evident from the outset that Hearts' negative tactics were unlikely to gain reward against a Kilmarnock side with a much more enlightened approach.

To his credit, Stewart endeavoured to deliver an honest verdict, including his refusal to excuse Nade's stupidity in shoving both hands into Frazer Wright's face after the Kilmarnock defender had apparently said something almost on the stroke of half time.

It is not known what Wright said, but, according to Stewart, it was nothing terribly untoward after the midfielder explained: "I was close to the incident and I am pretty positive that I did not hear anything insulting. We cannot feel aggrieved because if a player raises his hands, no matter the circumstances, the referee is going to react.

"We started the game well and then, for one reason or another, we disintegrated. A sending off usually has an effect on the result but it was still not good enough. We are shipping goals far too easily."

In the event, Hearts conceded three in the second half to Gary Wales, Colin Nish and Willie Gibson as Kilmarnock secured their first victory for six games and left their rivals contemplating a midweek CIS Cup quarter-final with Celtic quickly followed by an Edinburgh derby with increasing dread.

Such was the extent of assistant coach Frail's displeasure with referee William Collum for awarding Kilmarnock a penalty, from which Nish scored his side's second after Robbie Neilson had handled Danny Invincibile's cross, that he was ordered from the dug-out.

But it was Nade's dismissal that turned the game for Kilmarnock, according to their Edinburgh-born goalkeeper Alan Combe, who was cautioned for kissing his jersey in a playful reaction to the taunts of the Hearts fans.

"Nade looked a very important player for them," said Combe. "He is a big lad and he gave our defenders a hard time. Sometimes it is harder playing against ten men but we were brilliant in the second half, I thought."

The referee issued four cautions to each team, in all, but while the beautiful game did turn ugly at times as Hearts tried to strangle the life out of it, this was not an especially physical exchange.

It hardly mattered that Ibraham Tall headed a consolation goal from a free kick at the death, as Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

pointed out: "It was a terrific performance and a massive result as it moves us above Hearts into the top six.

We are nicely set up to face Celtic knowing that we took something from them on day one, because the confidence is back. You could see that."

You could also see the hand of Romanov on Hearts' team selection. How else do you explain Steve Banks being replaced in goal by Anthony Basso? Romanov continues to be conspicuous by his absence. But when he does eventually return it may be to face the music, for Hearts are once again on the verge of a crisis. It does not seem unreasonable to suggest that if Celtic and Hibs add to Hearts' misery, the balloon will go up.

Taken from the Scotsman