Csaba Laszlo proves bonus for Hearts at Celtic Park

One of Vladimir Romanov’s many bizarre utterances is that the Scottish game is bent and that the Old Firm slip a few quid into opponents’ pockets to get the results they want. It is tempting, in the current climate, to think that Heart of Midlothian’s absentee owner might be sending Stephen McManus a small jar of Beluga caviar to say “Thanks” for Saturday.

The Celtic captain’s late headed equaliser ensured that Romanov was able to break the recent habit of paying win bonuses to his team. Csaba Laszlo’s players were on the verge of recording a sixth successive victory in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, until McManus struck with 11 minutes left to let the champions – and Romanov – off the hook.

If you’re a Lithuanian conspiracy theorist, it all seems as fishy as the Caspian Sea. Except, of course, that the Hearts players have yet to receive any of their win bonuses. Andrew Driver, whose fine 23rd-minute finish looked destined to prove decisive, confirmed afterwards that he has yet to see any of the agreed bonuses from his employers but he is putting his trust in Romanov to smooth out the club’s cash crisis. Brave man.

In the midst of a debt that could be anywhere south of £40 million – but no one can keep tabs any longer because the club’s business was moved to Lithuania – the recent attempt to make Arbroath wait for their long-overdue £15,000 sell-on payment for Andy Webster is probably the most damning indictment. Romanov no longer puts money into Hearts – if he ever did – and the fear is that Driver and several of his Tynecastle colleagues will be heading out of the door in the January transfer window to raise some hard cash.

That would be a shame. Laszlo is offering the first glimpse of genuine progress since Romanov binned George Burley. This is Hearts’ best run in the Premier League since Burley’s eight victories at the start of the 2005-06 campaign had Tynecastle fans dreaming of a cherished title, before the owner ruined it all with gross interference.

Ironically, Burley’s run also came to an end with a 1-1 draw in the east end of Glasgow. Laszlo’s side were well-organised, especially at the back where Christophe Berra underlined why Blackburn Rovers have now joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in trying to prise the Scotland defender away. Wolves had a £1.5 million bid turned down in August but there will surely be an auction for Berra in January. Laryea Kingston, Bruno Aguiar, Maruis Zaliukas and Lee Wallace could also be sold.

Laszlo says he has spoken to Romanov about investment in the side, rather than tearing it apart, as he did in the wake of the 2006 Scottish Cup triumph by gradually selling Paul Hartley, Craig Gordon, Roman Bednar and Rudi Skacel. Those sales brought in more than £14 million, yet the club’s debt still soared, in contrast to Romanov’s other business, his Lithuanian bank, UBIG, which posted a £22 million profit last week. Perhaps the owner can now settle up with his patient players over those bonuses?

“I don’t know the club’s financial situation,” Driver, who was only denied a second goal thanks to an inspired save by Artur Boruc, said. “I don’t think anyone knows. We have all had to put a lot of trust in the club. Maybe our wages were paid late into our accounts but everything they said they would do, they have done. If anything, it has given us a siege mentality. There are always crisis headlines here but the players just lap it up.

“The results have turned around this season. the manager has been a big help. He talks to you and is a good man-manager. I think now, after beating Rangers and drawing at Celtic, we have all realised what a good team we can be.” Driver was asked about Romanov’s apparent indifference to Hearts but he just said, “It is nothing to do with us.” However, Driver, in line for an England Under21 call-up, feels that Hearts would benefit from Laszlo receiving funds to spend on new signings in the transfer window. “The manager wants to bring in a couple of new players and that could really take us forward,” he said. “The problem we have just now is that we don’t have enough depth in the squad but two more players would help. We still have a lot of quality. We are ambitious in every game we play.”

Although Celtic failed to take the opportunity to expand their lead over Rangers to six points, following their rivals’ own draw at Tannadice earlier in the day, Gordon Strachan’s side will come to look upon this result as a point gained, rather than two lost.

The Celtic manager was blunt about the performance, calling it the “worst in a long time”. It certainly seemed as if the hosts were paying a price for their tireless effort in defeating Villarreal in the Champions League just three days earlier.

“Hearts did well and were physically strong but we were too predictable – we had to grind something out,” Strachan said. “Maybe Rangers are feeling the same way. That will happen until the end of the season, teams will have off days so we must be happy with the point considering the way we played in the first half.”

Celtic (4-4-2): A Boruc 7 A Hinkel 5 G Caldwell 6 S McManus 7 M Wilson 4 S Nakamura 7 P Hartley 7 S Brown 5 A McGeady 6 S McDonald 5 S Maloney 5Substitutes G Samaras 4 (for Maloney, 29min), L Naylor (for Wilson, 65). Not used M Brown, C Sheridan, M Crosas, D O’Dea, K Mizuno.

Hearts (4-3-2-1): J Balogh 6 R Neilson 7 C Berra 8 M Zaliukas 8 E Jonsson 7 R Palazuelos 7 C Karipidis 7 B Aguiar 7 L Kingston 8 A Driver 8 C Nade 7 Substitutes D Obua 3 (for Kingston, 60min), D Cesnauskis 4 (for Aguiar, 65), J Mole (for Nade, 90). Not used J McDonald, J Makela, J Thomson, M Rapnik.

Referee: C Richmond. Attendance: 56,079

Taken from timesonline.co.uk