Falkirk Knew Their Hearts Weren't In It

Dec 31 2007 By Gordon Parks At Falkirk Stadium

FALKIRK 2

HEARTS 1

IT'S time for Valdimir Romanov to ditch Strictly Ballroom and get back into the boardroom.

Five straight defeats and Hearts are falling down the SPL table faster than their dance champion owner shuffling his way through the quickstep.

His club are in crisis and the Lithuanian must switch his attention back to a club he pledged would be courting Champions League ambitions under his command.

Instead they are third-bottom of the SPL and 10 points ahead of a Gretna side who are showing signs off making a fist of their relegation fight.

And on the evidence of Hearts' latest calamity at Falkirk, it's crucial Romanov waltzes back to Tynecastle to lead from the front by investing in players who will dig them out of this mess.

You would think that with 63 players on the books some would be able to rally to the cause. But no - Hearts have forgotten how to win.

Even Falkirk's players admitted they knew their opponents didn't have the stomach to hang on to a half-time lead.

Protecting a one goal cushion was just too much for them to cope with as they fell apart and invited the Bairns to take the spoils.

Striker Carl Finnigan revealed the signs of panic were an open invitation they couldn't resist.

He said: "Hearts were just kicking the ball long and giving it back to us which was inviting us to pile on the pressure.

"That gave us more confidence as it meant we could just throw ourselves into attack. We knew we would create chances and if we could take them then we would go on and win.

"You could see the Hearts players' heads go down and it gave us a lift.

"In the last couple of games we haven't played at our best but we have the results so even if we go behind in games we still feel we can pull back and take something.

"We still had that belief - even at 1-0 down - that if we lifted our game a bit then we would push on and win it."

The former Newcastle player was on target as his goal triggered a comeback but he paid tribute to the magical talent of Russell Latapy whose second-half introduction made all the difference for his side.

Finnigan said: "I just wanted to get on the pitch and try to have some input.

"It's been frustrating sitting on the bench in recent weeks and we haven't been playing well over the past few games. We didn't play well for the first 45 minutes against Hearts and were lucky only to be one goal down.

"But it was the arrival of Russell who went on 10 minutes before me that gave us that bit of quality we needed.

"Nothing surprises me about Russell as I've seen what he can do in training.

He slows the game down then raises it to his pace when he's running the show.

"He made passes, turned players and he can even get away from players which is incredible at his age.It's frightening what he's capable of at his age.

"Russell has some great ability in his locker. He gives us a lift when he comes on and we always know what we will get from him. With the run we're on at the moment we feel as though we can beat anyone and that's a great feeling to have."

But for the first 45 minutes, the Bairns weren't in contention against a Hearts side who showed more hunger and desire.

It was all going so well when Ruben Palzuelos headed the Jambos ahead in the 28th minute after being supplied by Andrew Driver.

Even the travelling support were beginning to believe their club's fortunes were starting to turn and they gave every bit of encouragement to aid the cause.

But it was all about to go horribly wrong and within three catastrophic second-half minutes the fans' revival was shattered.

No matter the undoubted effort put in by Stevie Frail's side, there was a feeling of impending doom which engulfed the visiting end of the ground and the Jambo players' confidence visibly evaporated.

And that was before Finnigan lashed in a 78th-minute equaliser. Latapy had been the catalyst for the fightback and he was instrumental in creating the chance for Michael Higdon to curl a winner past Steve Banks 180 seconds later.

The Bairns couldn't believe their luck at being invited to grasp three more points from a side lacking the mental strength to see the job through to a positive conclusion.

So, Vlad, had you been at the Westfield Stadium you would have known it's time to get your wad out and invest during next month's transfer window.

Falkirk racked up yet another win in their quest to stake a claim for a top-six place and full credit to them for banking points despite being out of sorts which is the sign of a good side.

It's the kind of quality and character which money just can't buy.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Michael Stewart (Hearts)

MANAGER

Q&A

JOHN HUGHES

Q: Do you think your team got out of jail?

A: Definitely. The game should have been over and done with by half time. We have Tim Krul to thank for a few saves that kept us in the match.

Q: What pleased you about the win?

A: We showed a great spirit to dig the result out. At half time I felt Hearts were spirited, physical, had played some great stuff and were the far better side.

But I felt if my players started to trust each other and pass the ball then it would happen for us.

Q: Did you feel Hearts allowed Falkirk back into the game?

A: No. It wasn't a case of that as our substitutions did that for us. Russell Latapy and Carl Finnigan coming on changed the game in our favour and once we scored our first goal there was only going to be one winner. I'm delighted for myplayers that it worked out.

Q: Are you tempted to start Latapy more often?

A: It hasn't been working for us recently without Russell but he gave us the spark to allow us to win

STEVIE FRAIL

Q. Are you able to feel optimistic after a much-improved display from your side?

A: Slightly. It's still a defeat but I asked my players for a spirit and urgency which they haven't shown in recent weeks. I asked them to play football and play well and at times we did. We were winning 1-0 and doing well so that's a positive thing to take from it.

Q: Do you think the players' heads went down in the second half?

A: I think they did. The change Falkirk made by bringing on Latapy helped them and we didn't get to grips with him but I felt we should have had the game won at half time. When Falkirk scored it was a case of here we go again.

Q: Is there a confidence problem with the players?

A: Definitely. Disappointment doesn't even come close to summing up their feelings.

Q: Do you feel as though your side just aren't getting the breaks?

A: Some managers may say that but we're not going to bleat about it. We must work hard to get out of this situation and it's going to be a tough month but I don't want to be sitting in this same position in February.

Gordon Parks

MATCH STATS

POSSESSION %

51 49

SHOTS ON TARGET

6 3

SHOTS OFF TARGET

3 6

CORNERS

6 4

FOULS CONCEDED

16 18

OFFSIDES

2 0

FALKIRK MAN BY MAN

Tim Krul: Several superb stops. 7

Jack Ross:Kept things simple. 6

Gerard Aafjes: Stuck to task of tracking Elliot but never comfortable in possession.5

Tam Scobbie: Hesitant on occasions but made several crucial interceptions. 5

Dean Holden: Had a couple of headers well saved and strong in the tackle. 6

Steven Thomson: Snapped into tackles and drove his side forward. 6

Patrick Cregg: Not as dominant as he can be and replaced early. 5

Scott Arfield: Swamped at times but was composed and assured on the ball. 5

Graham Barrett: Looked sluggish. 5

Michael Higdon: Grabbed late winner and always a physical threat in attack. 6

Pedro Moutinho: Improved after break.6

Subs: Russell Latapy - sparked his side towards the win, 7. Carl Finnigan - fired a great leveller, 5.

HEARTS MAN BY MAN

Steve Banks:Well beaten twice. 6

Robbie Neilson: Up and down right flank in first 45 minutes then pressed back. 5

Ibrahim Tall: Stifled Falkirk attack with some great blocks and interceptions. 7

Christophe Berra:Won his headers. 6

Lee Wallace: Unlucky not to score after an amazing 60-yard run. 7

Kestutis Ivaskevicius:Wasteful with a few chances but put in a tireless shift. 6

Michael Stewart: One of the few winners in the current side. 8

Marius Zaliukas: Made some great tackles and kept play moving forward. 6

Ruben Palazuelos: Header put his side ahead and was always a menace. 6

Calum Elliot: Held ball up well. 6

Andrew Driver: Great ball in for opener.6

Subs: Michael Pospisil - on too late, 2.

Saulius Mikoliunas - didn't add anything, 2.

Eggert Jonsson - wasted a late chance, 2.

Taken from the Daily Record