Hearts 1-2 Kilmarnock

Oct 6 2008 Neil Cameron Reports

ITALIAN Manuel Pascali probably feared he'd be dropped against Hearts after his gaffer had slaughtered him all week.

Instead, Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies made the midfielder his captain for the day.

Pascali was singled out after the defeat at Inverness, a truly insipid performance by him and his team-mates. He got it in the neck every day in training, moans, groans and complaints, all just to make sure the message was rammed home.

Jeff made it clear that it wasn't good enough and would not be tolerated but still made the player skipper in the absence of Garry Hay.

The ploy worked because Killie deserved their win and move up the SPL to third place. And it's not the only clever trick which has come off for Jefferies this season.

The signing of Pascali, a much needed presence in the centre of midfield, has been a masterstroke, as has his decision to stick with David Fernandez when it looked as if the Spaniard had taken one kick too many.

Fernandez has been immense this season, Saturday being a typically effective performance. Hearts put two, sometimes three, men on him whenever he took the ball with his back to goal.

His ankles, legs and back were left black and blue yet Fernandez ignored the pain to lay off yet another good ball. That's when he wasn't turning and twisting his way past those tackles.

Match winner Craig Bryson is one of the most improved players in the SPL while Mehdi Taouil is class, even if he does over-do it at times. But it's Pascali who is the cult hero. This wasn't his best performance but at Tynecastle it's so important to have someone in there when the tackles fly in who will stand up and be strong for the team.

And it meant so much to the former Parma man to do all of this while wearing the captain's armband.

Pascali said: "It was a big surprise to be made captain. I thank the gaffer for putting his faith in me.

"It was a fantastic day for us. To get the three points was so important after Inverness which was the worst moment of the season for us. It was vital we won the next match.

"Hearts don't lose many games at home so this was a perfect day for the team and, of course, myself.

"The gaffer had been on my back all week and I could understand that.

I needed it after that horrible match last Saturday. He had a good reason to be unhappy because we allowed our standards to drop.

"All the players were below their usual levels. You normally have one or two games such as that a season but in this game we showed everyone the Kilmarnock they know.

"All week the gaffer told us he didn't want to see that again.

"It's impossible to win every SPL game, although that is what we try to do, but what we must strive for is to be at our best every week."

Kilmarnock were at their best for much of this game. They did enough to earn a fine away win against a Hearts side who have work to do before the Edinburgh derby in two weeks.

Jambos boss Csaba Laszlo needs to get his team's frontline sorted out.

Neither Jamie Mole or new signing Mike Tullberg offered anything.

But in Fernandez and Connor Sammon, Killie had two players who made Hearts' defence work for every one of the 90 minutes.

It wasn't the only difference between the teams. I'm not sure if all of Kilmarnock's five yellow cards were deserved but that stat at least showed they were prepared to scrap. They won most of the individual battles.

And Hearts didn't help themselves.

Killie scored in 17 minutes because a Hearts counter-attack broke down.

With the Ayrshire men on the backfoot, Mole's loose pass gave possession to Bryson who made his way towards goal before being fouled by Mole who knew he was in trouble.

Taouil placed the ball down 22 yards from goal then curled a shot over the wall and into the net. Keeper Marian Kello hardly moved.

Hearts got level in 32 minutes when Michael Stewart's shot was blocked by Simon Ford in the box.

The ball fell to Laryea Kingston who could have blasted his effort but instead sent a clever side-foot shot low past Alan Combe.

Kingston went close in the second half with a volley which sailed over.

The same player had a shot saved by Combe who also kept out an effort by Mikoliunas.

Hearts did have more chances but Killie played the better football and threatened to take any opportunity that might come their way.

That happened with nine minutes left. Hearts didn't deal with a high punt aimed towards their defence, sub Donovan Simmonds provided a nice touch into Bryson's path who found himself with a shot on goal after a great run into the box which he squeezed under Kello.

The keeper stopped it going to 3-1 with a great save at full stretch to deny Gavin Skelton, but this really should have ended in a draw.

With seconds to go, Stewart crossed to the back post, Kingston got his head to the ball but it fell the wrong side of goal.

MAN OF THE MATCH David Fernandez (Kilmarnock)

MAGIC MOMENT MEHDI TAOUIL'S wonderful free-kick could not have been placed any more perfectly.

Taken from the Daily Record