Hearts stop the rot but red cards keep on coming for Frail's men

By STUART BATHGATE
AT TYNECASTLE
HEARTS 1
Velicka (62)

KILMARNOCK 1
Di Giacomo (44)

INDULGE in self-pity, or resort to self-help. The stark choice was there for Hearts at half-time on Saturday, and the former option must have been tempting as they found themselves a goal behind and a man down after the dismissal of Calum Elliot.

Instead, spurred on by some words from caretaker manager Stephen Frail, and with the backing rather than the barracking of the home support, they fought back to win their first league point in seven attempts. That was not enough to prevent them slipping down another place in the SPL to second bottom, but at least it halted a run of defeats which was the longest since the dismal days of the late 1970s.

We would be unwise to read too much into the home side's performance here. Their play was much improved in their narrow defeat by Falkirk seven days earlier, but then came the ignominious performance at Tannadice, where they had three men sent off as Dundee United ran out 4-1 winners. But, while a more considered verdict will have to wait until after the forthcoming Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell and then the resumption of league duties against Hibs, this point and the manner in which it was achieved can only do the Hearts players good.

The absence of Elliot might also help. The striker was a shade unfortunate to receive his second yellow card, for sliding in on Tim Clancy, but his attitude typified the indiscipline which Frail has vowed to stamp out. Having been booked just minutes earlier for a retaliatory lunge on Danny Invincibile, Elliot should have known it was wiser to allow Clancy to clear from close to his own goal-line. "I just got my foot to it and he got me," the Irishman said. "It's a silly tackle to make when you're already on a booking. I don't know if there was any malice in it, and it wasn't a vicious tackle, (but] with a booking already making a tackle like that was over-enthusiasm."

Having been given his chance by Frail, Elliot has done nothing to repay the coach's faith. He may put a lot of effort into chasing defenders, but he is less effective when in possession – and of course is not effective at all if he gets himself dismissed.

On the other hand, Deividas Cesnauskis and Ruben Palazuelos were highly positive influences as their team fought back in the second half. Starting a Hearts match for the first time in 15 months, Cesnauskis was always a threat to the Kilmarnock defence, and also tracked back consistently to support his own team-mates. Palazuelos, who has been used as a holding midfielder, took over the playmaker's role in the absence of Laryea Kingston and Michael Stewart, and also played a large part in driving his team forward.

Kilmarnock, it should be said, also had a hand in their own failure to end the match ahead. Having taken the lead a minute before the break when Paul di Giacomo first-timed home a cross from Jamie Hamill, they began the second period showing an evident awareness that a second goal would kill the game. When that goal did not come, however, they sat back, and slowly lost their self-confidence.

Before the sending-off of Elliot had given the visitors the initiative, the first half had been an even contest between two teams who were evidently struggling to find form. The second half was a much more entertaining contest, and the standard of football was a reminder that meetings between these sides in recent seasons have usually been in the top six rather than in the bottom half of the SPL.

Once Saulius Mikoliunas found his feet after coming on as a substitute for Audrius Ksanavicius, Hearts became the dominant side, and they deservedly equalised when Andrius Velicka got the crucial touch from a corner which was headed back across goal by Christophe Berra. Palazuelos and Christian Nade brought first-class saves out of Alan Combe as Hearts sought the winner, but it was Kilmarnock who finished the stronger side, and Willie Gibson and Invincibi
le let good chances go begging in the closing minutes.

The result was, therefore, a fair one, even if the share of the points provided scant consolation to two sides who are desperate to string together a few wins and escape from the wrong end of the SPL table. At least Kilmarnock have the excuse of a long injury list as a partial explanation for their problems, while Hearts have only themselves to blame for the number of players who have missed matches because of suspension.

Referee: J Underhill

Attendance: 14,346

Man of the match: Deividas Cesnauskis (Hearts)

Making his first start in 15 months for the home side, the Lithuanian
winger provided a much-needed cutting edge to their attack. Well balanced and quick-witted on the ball, he played a critical role in Hearts' second-half fight back from a goal and a man down.

Taken from the Scotsman