Hearts 2 - 0 Gretna

They played as if they'd just met: in Gretna's case on Saturday the cliche was true, with half the players involved having signed in January.

The club's new policy of ditching experienced players and bringing in youngsters on loan from England might save money, but seems unlikely to save the team from relegation.

The lack of cohesiveness was evident almost straight from kick-off, as Andrius Velicka burst through after a minute. He hit the side-netting, but Gretna failed to heed the warning. Two minutes later, Velicka was through again, this time finishing with his left foot.
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A decent team would have gone on to thrash Gretna, but Hearts are still disjointed and uncertain, despite a decent run of league results since Stephen Frail was given full control.

They did their best to let Gretna back into the game until Danny Hall - a January signing from Shrewsbury - ensured victory for the home team by bringing down Velicka for a penalty just before half-time. Hall was booked for that foul and sent off for another lunge in the second half.

"Hopefully, the loan signings will bring a freshness and a real desire to prove themselves," was how Davie Irons explained the policy. "They want to prove they can play first-team football and if they can do that we'll benefit and they'll benefit."

A big if. Rostyn Griffiths, Ben Wilkinson and Rhys Menell, on loan from Blackburn, Hull and Barnsley, added nothing.

John-Paul Kissock, 18 and on Everton's books, did look like a possible justification of Gretna's policy. A tricky, small Scouser with a tangled mop of hair and a superb touch, Gretna would be advised to play to his feet instead of booting the ball over his head in the vague direction of Kenny Deuchar.

Kissock, who didn't realise Gretna were bottom until he agreed to join, insisted the game was a "very good experience".

"I had 20 minutes to make a decision, I think it was the day before the window closed and the gaffer David Moyes called me into his office and asked if I wanted to come up," he said.

"I did my homework after I said yes and realised they were bottom. It's a challenge, but I believe we can stay up. I was up for the challenge and I want to try to keep Gretna in the SPL."

Kissock's style is reminiscent of a former team-mate. "I've so much respect for James McFadden. Learning off players like that every day you pick things up from them. He was such a fantastic lad, especially with shy lads like myself.

"I moved here just after James left for Birmingham and it happened so quick, I didn't really have a chance to speak to him. But I spoke to Rangers' David Weir, he said it was good league and it would be a good experience for me."

Gretna remain nine points behind Kilmarnock with the first of two games in hand on Wednesday at Hibs. At one point, it looked like Hearts might be dragged into the relegation battle, but this result, their third league win and clean sheet in a row, has them looking upward.

"The only thing that will satisfy us is third place," said Robbie Neilson. "It's a big ask but it's European football and that's where we want to be. We've had a poor start to the season but hopefully we can turn it around. We're confident of getting back in to the top six, we've got a few big games coming up."

Starting at Celtic Park next weekend, where Hearts will have to be far more convincing to maintain their good run.

Taken from the Herald