Victory over Dons can be catalyst

The visitors' level of desire must be retained for subsequent fixtures, of course, not least Wednesday's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final against Rangers. But against Aberdeen it was occasionally coupled with hints of more captivating football from Nade, Andrius Velicka and even Saulius Mikoliunas and substitute Ricardas Beniusis.

Mikoliunas in particular saw his reputation go before him late in the game when referee William Collum cautioned him for diving in the opposition penalty area. The winger looked to have been tripped in a challenge with Jeffrey de Visscher, but objective refereeing is becoming something of a distant memory in matches involving Hearts. Believe it or not, it did used to happen.

Penalty or not, Stephen Frail and his players returned to Edinburgh with three points they can put to very good use.

Even Jimmy Calderwood, normally one of the SPL's more fair-minded coaches, seemed to jump on the anti-Tynecastle bandwagon by labelling Nade "lazy". The Frenchman was trudging rather than jogging back onside when Stuart Duff inadvertently diverted the ball into his path on 54 minutes. He gratefully collected to steer a decisive finish beyond Jamie Langfield.

"I think Velicka was helped out a lot by Nade," said Frail.

"He took the pressure off him both when he came on Tuesday night at Motherwell and then on Saturday.

"Nade showed what a player he can be for us and we're just delighted.

"Pittodrie is a tough place to come at any time, especially off the back of (Aberdeen's] great win in midweek against Falkirk in the cup. I am really pleased, proud and chuffed with the performance we put in. It got a little bit desperate and there was last gasp defending with players throwing themselves at the ball, so I'm really chuffed.

"We came earlier in the season and got a draw and thought we probably just shaded that game. We've already won at Tynecastle against Aberdeen but we know the calibre of the players they have. They have a massive game against Bayern Munich so they're obviously playing well.

"That's another clean sheet for us, two back-to-back, and back-to-back wins for the first time since September."

The satisfaction was understandable. Winning without putting in a vintage performance indicates a good side, something Hearts are gradually looking more like under Frail's influence.

The former full-back even has Mikoliunas showing greater appetite, although in the first half he was guilty of allowing De Visscher too much space down the Hearts left.

Aberdeen felt they deserved at draw, with Calderwood focusing on some rather negative aspects of Nade's play when asked about the goal.

"I thought he was being lazy, he didn't run back and that's how he got the ball. I wouldn't have been too happy had it been one of my players," said the Pittodrie manager.

But, after a forgettable first half, it was always likely that a stroke of good fortune would be required to break the deadlock.

Duff stuck a foot out at Christos Karipidis' clearing header but the ball skimmed off his instep and fell directly to Nade, who was still in behind the Aberdeen defence following a Hearts attack moments earlier.

The Frenchman isn't the most industrious and if his career is to prosper in Scotland that's something he must address, but he finished with aplomb.

Frail was equally pleased with the collective defensive work of his side after enduring the nervous closing stages. De Visscher's free-kick was repelled by Steve Banks at the height of Aberdeen's late onslaught, but Frail continued: "That has probably been the consistent thing anyway, the back four.

"Neilson and Berra and whether it be Karipidis, Zaliukas or Tall, the changes that have been there have been tactical or through suspension and injury. We are all defending now, from the front we are pressing teams up the pitch and trying to win the ball higher up.

"It's great for the goalkeeper and the back four to keep a clean sheet but credit to them all. It wouldn't have been nice going into Wednesday on the back of a defeat or a draw because we came for the three points. Now we get the guys together and look forward to what will be a great game for us."

Special mention must be given to Beniusis. Having looked the proverbial carthorse in previous matches, the Lithuanian replaced his compatriot Velicka for the closing stages at Pittodrie and looked totally transformed. He held possession confidently, laid off at the right time, powered forward with menace and might have claimed his first Hearts goal but for a blocking defender inside the six-yard box. At one point he was also back ta
ckling on his own 18-yard line.

Frail was reluctant to be drawn on the Mikoliunas incident for fear of retribution from the SFA. "I'll have a look at the decision he was booked for," he said.

"From where I was there was contact, I'm hoping there was contact and he's not gone down. If he's gone down then we will have a serious look at it. I have made him very aware of the situation and how decisions may go against him but I'll let you discuss whether it was victimisation or not."

"Miko's maybe got a reputation now after Lithuania-Scotland and these things are going against him," was Christophe Berra's opinion. "He's a good lad and he says it was a penalty. He's my team-mate and I believe him so I'll back him. The decision wasn't given and we just have to move on."

Moving on is easier when you're winning. Having rediscovered that triumphant glow, Hearts must keep it burning.

Taken from the Scotsman