Hamilton Acad 1 - 2 Hearts

Csaba Laszlo might be the most verbose manager in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but whatever he says to his players is clearly getting through.

A simple post-match hello from the press to the Hungarian results in a 20-minute monologue; perhaps it's a tactic to avoid difficult questioning or perhaps Laszlo just likes practising his English. In any case the contrast with predecessors such as Valdas Ivanauskas and Stephen Frail could hardly be more stark, on the pitch as well as off it.

Three league wins out of four is the club's best start to a season since the heady days of George Burley's shortlived reign. There is plenty of work still to be done, as last week's Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat to Airdrie showed, but Hearts fans have reason to be optimistic again.

This was the type of match Hearts would have squandered points in last season. Two-nil up and cruising with 10 minutes to go, Derek Lyle's glancing header gave Hamilton hope and Hearts cause for concern. But Laszlo has instilled a spirit and organisation that was entirely lacking last term and his team successfully closed out the game.

Audrius Ksanavicius had to be held back from Michael Stewart after the match (probably for the diminutive Lithuanian's own good) after some, er, constructive criticism from his team-mate about a misplaced pass. Before, that might have been seen as another example of the lack of morale in the squad. Now, it seems more like two players caring about their work.

"It shows everyone gives a damn and wants to win things,"

said Andy Driver, who scored Hearts' second goal.

"Last year, we were beaten 4-0 by Rangers; Nacho Novo gave the ball away and Barry Ferguson ran 20 yards and went mental at him - that showed the difference.

"Everyone's enjoying themselves, everyone's pulling in the right direction and everyone really wants it, which has made a change from the last couple of years. It gives you a better feel around the place and helps bring the best out of individual players as well. There were points last year when it was horrendous coming into training."

Driver was impressive alongside Laryea Kingston in a three-pronged supporting cast behind lone striker Jamie Mole, although the third member of that trio, David Obua, looks like he will need plenty of time to get used to Scottish football.

Mole is hard-working but ineffective and Laszlo still needs a proven goalscorer. Derek Riordan might be signed today, unless his former club Hibs scratch up the £250,000 Celtic are demanding for him. Another man on the Tynecastle radar is Rangers' Alan Gow, who could be taken on loan.

Hamilton should be commended for their determination to try to play football in their first season in the division, but will have to improve greatly in defence if they are to stay up. David Elebert let Marius Zaliukas rise unchallenged to head in Hearts' first after 18 minutes.

Mark McLaughlin is out for three months with a cruciate injury and Hamilton's problems got worse when fellow centre-half Chris Swailes limped off with a hamstring injury.

That at least allowed James McCarthy to enter the fray and Hamilton improved in the second half. However, their front three were all equally ineffective and another defensive mistake gave the hosts a hugely difficult task.

"Obviously, it was my fault," said Simon Mensing, who stepped back from midfield to replace Swailes. He gave the ball away to Driver, who jinked past him and finished low and hard. "If you make a mistake that far back up the pitch, you will get punished in the SPL. That is what happens.

"At 1-0, you are always in the game, but that second one killed us off to an extent. If you go out and get played off the park, you can, maybe, hold your hands up. But the goals we lost were not good enough."

Taken from the Herald