GARY’S THE HERO AGLEN

Scorer: HEARTS: Glen

By Colin Brown

JAMBOS kid Gary Glen grabbed his second winner in two games with a brilliant finish.

Inverness had kept a tight grip on the classy youngster, but like all good goalscorers, he took his chance when it came.

Ruben Palazuelos played the ball through, but Glen, above, was just so cool as he clipped the ball over the diving Michael Fraser.

And he stole the headlines from substitute Scott Robinson, who became the youngest ever Hearts player, at just over 16 years old.

It was a slightly hollow debut as he got just 30 seconds and had one touch, but kid Robbo is in the club record books.

Hearts caretaker boss Stevie Frail was delighted with both his goalscorer and the creator. Frail said: “Gary Glen is a good player, he is very clever and brings other players into the game.

“I thought he showed class and composure with his finish and he has got an eye for goal.

“We’ve known for a while he can play, but he has grabbed his chance. Let’s not get carried away at this stage, but if he keeps progressing he could become a Hearts hero of the future.

“I would like to have given young Scott Robinson more time as well but he is sitting delighted in the dressing room and he is in the record books.

“In fact, we had eight Under-21 players in the squad and it’s early for some, but it is a tribute to our youth system.”

Turning to Palazuelos’ contribution, Frail was also full of praise for the Spanish midfielder.

He added: “Ruben has been a real find for us and is great in possession. He waited a long time for his chance, but he has been difficult to leave out since.”

Palazuelos was the best player on the park, showing a great range of passing and fine dead-ball deliveries. And he also sees a big future for Glen.

The Spaniard said: “Gary is a good striker and it is important for young players to play well and at only 18, he will be even better next season. He has scored twice in two games which is good for him, the club and the fans.

“It is possible he can replace Andrius Velicka as our goalscorer but Andrius had a lot more experience. It is important not to put pressure on him.”

Hearts enjoyed the early possession, forcing six corners in the first 10 minutes. Skipper Christophe Berra was off target from Palazuelos’s corner before Christos Karapidis forced a save from Fraser with a header.

But the big Greek defender came even closer when he powered a header in from another Palazuelos corner and rattled the top of the bar.

However, it wasn’t one-way traffic and a fine cross by Dougie Imrie found Don Cowie charging into the box, but under pressure from Berra, his header was off-target.

Glen, above, got his first sniff of goal after a fine ball from Calum Elliot but the youngster’s first touch was poor and Richard Hastings cleared.

Then he got a little closer after 20 minutes when Jason Thomson overlapped down the right and delivered a great cross.

Glen controlled neatly but just couldn’t get over the top of his volley which flew over the bar. The young striker turned provider as he slipped past Ross Tokely and delivered a perfectc cutback.

Somehow, Deividas Cenauzkis managed to miskick from only four yards, letting Inverness off the hook in a candidate for miss of the season.

But the visitors came back strongly and Hearts had Steve Banks to thank for a handful of fine stops. His first was a great save from Cowie’s 20-yard free kick that Banks fisted away with his left hand.

And the keeper went down low to his right to tip away a looping header from David Proctor after a fine corner from Imrie.

However, the pick of his stops was a fine left handed save to deflect Dennis Wyness’ shot round the post and deny the former Jambos striker a goal on his return to Tynecastle.

After the break, Inverness almost paid the penalty for stopping when two balls were on the pitch at the same time.

Referee Dougie McDonald allowed play to continue and Glen squared for Wallace, who was denied by a super-brave save at his feet by Fraser.

The Hearts sub passed up a another fine scoring chance minutes later when he was through on Fraser, but chose to square the ball rather than shooting.

These misses could have proved crucial but Hearts’ prayers were answered in 78 minutes with a great goal.

Sub Marius Zaliukas flicked the ball on to Glen and he played a cute one-two with Palazuelos. There was still plenty to do but Glen’s finish was that of a natural goalscorer.

He waited for Fraser to go to ground and duly despatched a brilliant shot over the keeper from 15 yards.
Hearts were happy to defend their advantage although Palazuelos did come close from 25 yards before Robinson was given his glory debut in the dying seconds.

Glen’s goal brought to an end Caley Thistle’s fine record in post split matches. They had won 10 of their last 11 games in the split and boss Craig Brewster felt there wasn’t much between the sides.

Brewster said: “We are really disappointed to lose and I didn’t think there was much in the game.

“They had a couple of opportunities in the first half and our keeper did well to put off Cesnauskis. But we also worked Banks a few times in the first half.

“We didn’t exert ourselves nearly as much in the second half but I couldn’t see us conceding a goal.

“But Glen produced some magic and that was the only difference between the sides.

“We still have pride at stake and points to be gained as I am looking for a strong finish to the season.

“There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Marius Niculae but he has another year on his contract and as far as I am concerned, he will still be at the club.”

HEARTS: Banks, Berra, Karipidas, Goncalves, Cesnauskis (Wallace 52), Elliot (Zaliukas 78), Mikoliunas, Thomson, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Glen. Subs not used: Ridgers, Robinson, Ivaskevicrus, Screpis, Rapnik.
INVERNESS CT: Fraser, Tokley, McBain, Wilson (Paatelainen 68), Imrie, Duncan, Cowie, Hastings, Niculae (McAllister 84), Wyness (Bayne 65), Proctor. Subs not used: Malkowski, Black, Kerr, Vigurs.