Hearts’ heavyweight striker also packs a lot of punch

Hearts 1 - 0 HAMILTON ACAD
CHRISTIAN Nade was once mistaken for a podgy visitor to the Riccarton training ground by the Hearts manager, Csaba Laszlo. The heavyweight striker is now packing a punch as well as a paunch.

Nade's contentious opening goal kept Hearts in a keen challenge for third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, complained bitterly for an offside decision, but his defence struggled to cope as Nade threw his considerable weight around. His substitution after 62 minutes was greeted with widespread disapproval from the Tynecastle crowd, but stamina is not a primary attribute for the 15st slab of a centre forward.

Nade was aided by the return of David Obua. The Ugandan last appeared for Hearts in the 2-1 win at New Douglas Park in August and last night he brought an added dimension of gangly effectiveness to Hearts' play, at least until his removal after an hour. The pair were integral to a robust and even domineering performance from Hearts, with Andrew Driver adding pace and purpose to a complementary attack.

The artistry of Bruno Aguiar was arguably the decisive influence. He took command of the midfield amid the youthful vitality of James McArthur and James McCarthy and his incisive passing and support were instrumental in the general flow towards Thomas Cerny's goal.

For Hamilton, this was a familiar endurance test. Reid was as harassed as his defenders as he bemoaned perceived refereeing injustices as well as the outbreak of poor decision-making from his youthful side. The manager vented his frustration at anyone willing to listen, and even those who had turned a deaf ear.

The Ray Winstone doppelganger may need some anger management to see him through the rest of a fraught campaign without suffering a double coronary.

David Graham provided fleeting moments of hope on the counter-attack for Hamilton, but Hearts had a stranglehold since Nade's sixth minute opener.

James McCarthy, the poster boy for the Hamilton playschool, celebrated his 18th birthday on Tuesday. After blowing out the birthday candles, there was much huffing and puffing at Tynecastle. He was deprived sufficient service to fulfil his role as link man between attack and midfield. Predictably, he also endured feeble abuse from the Hearts support for his decision, taken two years ago, to represent the Republic of Ireland.

It has been an educational elevation for the Accies. Back-to-back wins in the opening weeks of the season set an unrealistic benchmark. Reality has bitten hard since, with Reid's side accumulating only four more points. It is not for the want of trying.

Hamilton continue to preach a positive philosophy, investing in youth and invention. They are not for changing, even if it takes them back from whence they came. Not for the first time this season, or the last, their labours went unrewarded.

Hearts' early opener had a hint of the unjust, but given an injury list that includes Laryea Kingston, Michael Stewart, Adrian Mrowiec, Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis, Laszlo had a sound case for a slice of good fortune.

Lee Wallace's pass was flicked on by Aguiar and Nade used his strength to fend off McLaughlin and Trent McClenahan to poke his shot under the advancing Hamilton goalkeeper, Thomas Cerny.

The hosts were the aggressors, forcing the play towards the broad shoulders of Nade and relying on support from the creative trident of Driver, Aguiar and Obua.

Hamilton's hopes faded shortly after recording the first shot at goal. Alex Neil's corner was headed back across goal by Brian Easton and Mark McLaughlin's acrobatic overhead kick landed wide of Janos Balogh's goal.

The goalkeeper's eccentricity would be a source of encouragement throughout Hamilton's attempted comeback. He spilled a Graham shot and had displayed the distribution capabilities of a leaky milk float.

Hearts elected to keep the ball as far away from the erratic Hungarian as possible. Nade was denied a second with a pair of instinctive stops from Cerny, while Aguiar headed over the bar from six yards after another dynamic deliver from Driver.

Hamilton replaced the ineffectual Lucas Akins with Richard Offiong after the interval but it was Hearts who continued to engineer the better chances.

Nade showed the suppleness of a hippo as he stretched to connect with Aguiar's inviting cross, slicing a hapless effort miles off target. He was replaced soon after by Jamie Mole. Offiong's tame header was as good as it got for Hamilton.

Taken from the Herald