Csaba Laszlo kicks up a fuss at Tynecastle

So much for the performance-related bonus theory, then. The Heart of Midlothian players have been assured they will receive last week’s wages tomorrow morning after an unexplained technical problem meant the squad were not paid. Any suggestions they would make their point and vent their frustrations on the field proved unfounded as they maintained their 100 per cent Clydesdale Bank Premier League home record to move, albeit temporarily, into second place in the table on Saturday night.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle made a fight of it and had they had a cutting edge to match their enthusiasm and work-ethic then this could easily have been their third successive league victory on the road.

An edgy, nervous second-half display by the hosts was later praised by their eccentric, hyperactive but thoroughly entertaining head coach, Csaba Laszlo. It would come as no surprise if the most-prized season tickets at Tynecastle next season are not for the hospitality seats in the main stand with the sandwiches and sausage rolls but for the 12 or so seats around the home technical area, to watch the former Uganda manager in his usual hive of activity.

Some managers claim to kick every ball; Laszlo makes every pass, takes every throw in and generally looks as if he would pick himself in the team if he had the chance. One memorable moment saw the Hearts head coach resemble John Cleese in Basil Fawlty fashion as he appeared to kick his own leg above his head in an attempt to prove whatever thought was rumbling about his mind. Aside from these distractions, he may also know what he is doing.

An early goal from Saulius Mikoliunas separated the teams in a game that threatened to burst into life but mainly remained nothing more than a bit frantic at both ends.

Christophe Berra, the Hearts captain, insisted the off-field problems, which seemingly incur more often around Gorgie than anywhere else in Scotland, had little affect on the team morale, saying: “We are all professionals and we trained all week. All that matters is the 90 minutes and getting the three points. The way I look at it is it’s a win bonus. So, that is more money for us. We have been told we will be paid at the beginning of the week. We are not concerned. We are not looking at the league tables as there are only six games played. It would mean more when there are six games left.”

If Vladimir Romanov, Hearts’ Lithuanian owner, wants to raise some cash quickly for wages then he would do worse than increase the number of seats around Laszlo. It may well prove to be one of his, if not the, wisest moves of the season. As long as you don’t mind having your view of the pitch blocked for 90 mad minutes.

Heart of Midlothian (4-4-1-1): M Kello 8 – E Jonsson 6, M Zaliukas 7, C Berra 7, L Wallace 7 – L Kingston 7, M Stewart 8 (sub: A Mrowiec, 85min), C Karipidis 7, S Mikoliunas 7 (sub: R Palazuelos, 76 4) – A Ksanavicius 5 (sub: C Nade, 60 5) – J Mole 6. Substitutes not used: J MacDonald, J Thomson, M Rapnik, G Glen. Booked: Ksanavicius, Stewart, Zaliukas.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (4-4-2): M Fraser 6 – R Tokely 6, P McGuire 6, G Munro 6, R Hastings 6 – D Cowie 6, I Black 6 (sub: B Wilson, 74 5), R McBain 6 (sub: I Vigurs, 81), D Imrie 5 – A Rooney 6 (sub: G Wood, 63 5), A Barrowman 6. Substitutes not used: R Esson, L Djebi-Zadi, R McAllister, J Duff. Booked: Tokely, Wood.

Referee: W Collum Attendance: 12, 890

Taken from timesonline.co.uk