Rheingau 0 - 6 Hearts : Nice timing for a debut victory

Published Date: 24 July 2008
By BARRY ANDERSON
A RESOUNDING victory which Csaba Laszlo couldn't have timed better given that it took place in front of his watching paymasters, Vladimir and Roman Romanov.
Hearts practised cohesive passing, clinical finishing and an all-round professional approach to accord the Hungarian his maiden victory as manager. Yet he remains some way from being satisfied.

Most of the 300 or so fans who attended the Rheingau Stadium last night would instantly have recognised the gaping gulf in class between the SPL side and their opponents, a collection of local amateur players. What ensued was a thoroughly one-sided affair compounded by an overwhelming scoreline. Six different Hearts players found the net, including the recently-returned Juho Makela, but Laszlo is demanding more.

"I am always happy but the problem is we don't score enough," he said. "We created a lot of chances and, okay, we scored some goals, but more is possible. I am happy about the team spirit and about the kind of football we are playing. I think the players are very tired but they did a good job. However, against Kaiserslautern, we must do more."

Friday's encounter will indeed require the gear stick to be shunted up a notch, but perhaps Laszlo's words, uttered after the match with Romanov Snr standing only yards away, were as much for the majority shareholder's ears as anyone's. Constantly pushing players for optimum performance is a useful act for any coach involved in Romanov's footballing empire to engage in, and the intelligent Hungarian has cottoned on fast to his boss's mindset.

All in all, neither man could be too dissatisfied with Hearts last night. Romanov and his son, the Hearts chairman, were accompanied in the Geisenheim crowd by FBK Kaunas coach Jose Couceiro and their trusted confidant Senderis Girsovicius, now coaching Lithuania's Under-21 side. Although the standard of opposition was mediocre at best, they would have admired the appetite and energy on display from those in maroon.

In particular, Makela was keen to impress after returning from a productive loan spell with HJK Helsinki. A clinically-taken second-half goal strengthened his case, or so it seemed until Laszlo spoke at full-time about his Finnish striker. "He is a player who can fight but he must learn to shoot goals. One goal is not enough," said the new manager.

"A good striker shoots goals all the time. In this game he had maybe two or three good chances but he must score them. Last night was his first step and I hope he will have more luck against Kaiserslautern. He is a good worker and that is the positive about him. He has come back to rejoin the team and he understands what I need from him. I hope he can keep this attitude.

"I said before that results are not always important in pre-season, it's the tactics you play and I would like to see in the field what I want from the strikers and midfielders. The competition is there, especially in midfield, and I hope as soon as possible we can take a goalkeeper and maybe two or three new players. After this, the team will be ready for the new season."

In baking evening sunshine, Laszlo's players took the field accompanied by familiar acoustics as The Hearts Song blared out of the modest stadium pavilion. It was evidence of the locals' extensive hospitality towards their Scottish guests, although the gesture wasn't quite returned once proceedings got underway as Hearts were in destructive mood.

On six minutes, Larry Kingston meandered skilfully past three defenders for Andy Driver to cross. Patrick Bauer's dithering inside the penalty area allowed Audrius Ksanavicius to steal possession and dispatch a clinical finish beyond keeper Roman Melzer. Ksanavicius volleyed at goal again moments later and was denied by a reaction save before the ball was swept off the goal line with some desperation. Rheingau Auswahl cleared the resultant corner but the returning ball was converted by Christophe Berra to double Hearts' advantage.

Ksanavicius cut a dominant figure throughout the opening period, frequently switching flanks with Driver. The Lithuanian's corner on 18 minutes brought Marius Zaliukas leaping like the proverbial salmon above the home defence for a fine headed goal. Hearts weren't contented by that and, after Ksanavicius was felled by Rheingau's Jurgen Bierschenk, Kingston converted the fourth from the penalty spot.

In between, a procession of shots rained upon Melzer as the match began resembling a session of shooty-in for the Tynecastle side. Laszlo replaced every player bar Lee Wallace during the interval, however Hearts remained in the ascendancy by combining genuine hunger with intelligent movement and passing. The hosts continued to toil in comparison but the visitors' insistence on adhering to Laszlo's passing philosophy made for some worthwhile entertainment.

Michael Stewart's long-range drive nestled in the net on 57 minutes, and two minutes later Makela chested Deividas Cesnauskis' cross to volley the sixth goal home with notable conviction.

After Ralf Muehlsiegel blocked a Jamie Mole shot on the goal line, Hearts fashioned their best attack of the entire match. Stewart slid a through pass towards Makela, whose first-time lay-off was collected by the on-running Cesnauskis. Unfortunately, the Lithuanian's final shot crept wide of the post when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Laszlo looked pensive on the touchline throughout the 90 minutes. Romanov would doubtless agree with his manager's assertion that Hearts should endeavour to improve regardless of this 6-0 thumping. Nonetheless, the Hungarian's philosophy appears to have infiltrated the minds of his players in a relatively short period of time. Kaiserslautern was always to be the main test of this tour, but last night served as an intriguing appetiser.

Rheingau Auswahl: Melzer, Schreiner, Preisler, Vogt, Marz, Bauer, Akrri, Bierschenk, Much, Aktan, Sohns. Subs: Weisel, Neumenn, Klotz, Muehlsiegel, Dillmann, Schromm, Brusser, Frienk.

Hearts 1st half (4-1-2-1-2): Banks; Karipidis, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Palazuelos; Ksanavicius, Driver; Kingston; Glen, Templeton. Sub: Husband.

Hearts 2nd half (4-4-2): MacDonald; Thomson, Ivaskevicius, McGowan, Wallace; Mikoliunas, Jonsson, Stewart, Cesnauskis; Mole, Makela. Sub: Husband.

Taken from the Scotsman