IT’S BERRA TO GET WIN BONUS

By Colin Brown, 20/09/2008

Scorer: HEARTS: Mikoliunas

CHRISTOPHE BERRA reckons the Hearts stars aren’t too bothered they didn’t get paid last week — because now they’ll get a win bonus too.

The Jambos refused to let the uncertainty over their pay last week affect them as they set about maintaining their 100 per cent home record this season.

And for the second time this season Saulius Mikoliunas grabbed the precious winner to fire Hearts up to second in the table.

Skipper Berra insists the lack of pay isn’t weighing on their minds. He said: “We’ve been told it’s due to a technical hitch and the way I look at it we’ll get paid more next week as we’ll have today’s win bonus.

“But we’ve been told we’ll get paid next week and I take people at their word. It’s the first time it’s ever happened since I’ve been here and I’m sure it won’t happen again.

“But we’re professionals and you just get on with it.”

Berra was pleased with the three points and the manner of the victory.

He added: “We didn’t play our best but you can’t win pretty all the time. It’s satisfying to grind out a 1-0 win and get three points.

“I thought we adapted well to their long-ball game and our keeper Marian Kello commanded at crosses and took the pressure off the defence.”

Jambos boss Csaba Laszlo agreed that the win was vital.

He said: “The important thing was to win and now I am thinking about our next game with Dundee United.

“This was a precious win and if every game ends 1-0 for us I am happy.

“We could have scored more goals but we changed our tactics and were dangerous on the counter-attack and confident in defence.

“I give my team ten out of ten today because we didn’t give any chances to Inverness.

“When we played Falkirk we made many chances but lost the game and I think it is more important to win.

“I needed to bring back confidence to the players and the fans and if we win this will happen.”

When asked about the team’s wages not being paid, Laszlo just grinned and said: “I will have to ask my wife if the money is in my bank. I know nothing about this - my job is on the pitch.”

There’s no doubt that Laszlo is a sly fox and judging by his start at Tynecastle maybe he’s not a bad coach either.

It was the visitors who got the first chance when Ian Black’s shot was deflected into the path of Roy McBain but Hearts keeper Kello bravely dived at his feet to smother the shot.

But the Highland side looked shaky at the back and when Grant Munro failed to clear Laryea Kingston’s corner, Christos Karipidis was only inches too high with his overhead effort.

But Hearts were in front after eight minutes through their Lithuanian connection.

Audrius Ksanavicius split the Inverness defence wide open with a perfectly weighted pass and Mikoliunas took a touch before sliding a low shot past Michael Fraser at his near post.

The keeper didn’t quite get his angles right and left a lot of space for Miko to fire home.

However, Fraser redeemed himself with a magnificent save to prevent Hearts going further in front.

Lee Wallace picked out the run of Michael Stewart and his clever first-time volley looked destined for the top corner until Fraser twisted acrobatically to tip the ball over the bar.

It was a vital stop as it kept his side within striking distance of Hearts.

But it was all Hearts and Kingston skipped away from Dougie Imrie’s challenge to tear into the box and more composure with his finish would have provided a goal.

Inverness created their best chance when Don Cowie picked up a loose throw from Kello and fired a cross back into the danger area.

The Hearts keeper parried the ball into the path of Imrie but recovered well to hold the winger’s drive.

Inverness almost scored from a set-piece when Cowie’s corner was met by Phil McGuire but the big defender couldn’t keep his header down and on target.

At the other end Jamie Mole sent in a dangerous cross to find Kingston rushing in at the back post but he also headed over.

It looked as though Hearts were happy to sit on their lead in the second half but a mistake by Marius Zaliukas almost presented Caley with an equaliser but keeper Kello again saved Hearts with a great one-handed stop to deny Imrie.

Inverness threw men forward in search of an equaliser but struggled to create any clear-cut chances as Hearts defended comfortably.

And that wasn’t lost on Caley chief Craig Brewster, who must be worried that a lack of fire power could see his side struggle to stay in the SPL.

He said: “I thought we deserved something from the game and it was frustrating to put in a decent performance and come away with nothing.

“We need to do better in the final third of the pitch and create more opportunities to score.

“You don’t get many chances away from home, so it’s important to take any chances that we do make.

“I thought we showed a lack of concentration for Hearts’ goal but apart from that, we looked comfortable.

“Mikoliunas’ pace hurt us at their goal and Fraser made a brilliant save from Michael Stewart but apart from that Hearts created nothing.

“But their back four did really well along with Karipidis defending well in front of them.”

HEARTS: Kello, Wallace, Berra, Zaliukas, Karipidis, Kingston, Jonsson, Stewart (Mrowiec 85), Mikoliunas (Palazuelos 76), Ksanavicius (Nade 58), Mole. Subs not used: MacDonald, Thomson, Rapnik, Glen.

INVERNESS CT: Fraser, Tokley, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, McBain (Vigurs 79), Black (Wilson 72), Imrie, Cowie, Rooney (Wood 62), Barrowman. Subs not used: Esson, Djebi-Zadi, McAllister, Duff.