Hearts driven by an African beat

BARRY ANDERSON
Hearts 3 Inverness CT 2
HAIRS stood rigid on necks all around Tynecastle after a pulsating finish to this encounter.

In the end, resolute as Inverness were, Hearts' relentless desire was overpowering.

Complementing their rhythm was the background beat of an African drum, as the Ugandan David Obua and Ghanaian Larry Kingston helped their side score three goals for the first time since the season's opening day.

In turn, they were due gratitude to the outstanding Andy Driver. His crossing created all of Hearts' goals and he was also impeded by Roy McBain for a second-half penalty which Michael Stewart missed. With the transfer window nearing its final days, retaining the 21-year-old must be a priority if the Tynecastle hierarchy have any aspirations of competing in Europe next year.

In that context, this victory could prove extremely useful. Dougie Imrie unleashed an exocet missile on 89 minutes which will take some bettering if it is not to win goal of the season. It was Inverness' second equaliser after Obua's two goals book-ended Pavels Mihadjuks' header for the visitors.

As home supporters began to trudge out of the stadium, Driver collected an incisive pass from Stewart and once again scarpered into the penalty box to pull the ball back for Kingston, who confidently swept it into the net four minutes after entering the field as substitute.

Last season, losing such a late equaliser would have shattered Hearts and consigned them to a draw.

Luck is seemingly favouring Csaba Laszlo and his charges at the moment, but their indomitable will and the influence of Driver should also not be underestimated.

"Andy Driver is one of the most talented players in the UK, not only in Scotland," opined Kingston. "Even if he doesn't have a good game he can still create something for the team. He's an important player for us and he set up the three goals. I think for now Hearts need him.

"Every player's aim is to play at the highest level so if one of the bigger clubs come in and he wants to go, that's his decision. He is a good player who can fit into any club in the UK, even the top four in England. A lot of players at the top four clubs are his age and in football you need opportunities to prove yourself."

Laszlo has already earmarked Obua as Driver's long-term replacement, recognising that the Englishman's talents are destined for a far grander platform than the SPL. The Ugandan has not settled easily in Scotland but Saturday provided the first genuine signs that he is a worthwhile addition. On 39 minutes he jumped for Driver's left-sided cross with Ryan Esson, the Inverness goalkeeper, and won the challenge before knocking his first goal for Hearts into a gaping net. Mihadjuks' 56th-minute header restored parity but 11 minutes from time Driver, by now switched to the right flank, hung the ball in the air again and Obua rose powerfully to head beyond Esson.

"On another day the first goal is a free-kick," bemoaned the goalkeeper. "I spoke to the ref at half-time and he says the guy outjumped me. You have to go with his decision. Does he make any contact with the ball? Is he just jumping into me so I drop the ball? That's what he's got to decide and he decided against it. I feel he just jumped straight into me, although he's got to go for the ball. Some days you get them, some days you don't. It's a tough one to take."

Inverness, under the temporary charge of coach John Docherty, were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes as McBain fouled Driver in the penalty area and earned a caution. Seconds later, as Imrie unsportingly tried to carve up the penalty spot with his studs, McBain was issued a straight red by referee Steve Conroy for foul and abusive language. However, Stewart's penalty was saved by Esson and the score remained 1-1. "I thought it was a soft pen as well," added the goalkeeper. "Luckily I guessed right, on another day I go the other way."

The penalty might have been taken by Bruno Aguiar had he still been on the field. His 64th-minute substitution for Gary Glen prompted a brusque reaction from the Portuguese, who waved away Christian Nade's attempted pat on the back before storming up the Tynecastle tunnel in disgust.

"I wanted someone with more direction for goal, so I chose Gary Glen," explained Laszlo. "If the player (Aguiar] is unsatisfied I am happy about this. If he comes off and smiles I think it is wrong. You must have this reaction, it is not a problem for me. One person is not important, the team is important. This was also a very good signal for Bruno: We won the game without you.

"The team said to Mike, 'it's okay that you missed the penalty'. If you look, Stewart was the one who gave the pass to Driver for the third goal."

Laszlo replaced Nade with Kingston before Obua's foul on Dougie Imrie presented Inverness with the chance of a second equaliser. Imrie wasn't to pass it up and rasped an unstoppable free-kick from 25 yards past Jamie MacDonald. At that point a draw seemed certain but Driver and Kingston had other ideas.

"If I make a short analysis, it was a bad performance but good result," said Laszlo. "All week I spoke with the players and tried to prepare them for this special game. The Inverness coach was sacked and after this you have a new wind in the team because everybody would like to show they are better than before.

"We won against Hibs in the cup and then away at Kilmarnock for the first time in three years, and after (they think] we are back again. I told them this is not okay, you must go back down and work to get three points against Inverness. You must have big discipline and this was not there, especially in the first half.

"I must compliment them for coming back twice. I saw the people in the stadium when the second goal went in, they moved out because they thought it was finished. I think 99 per cent nobody believed in the team but we came back. Okay, you must sometimes have luck but you must do something to get the luck. I was proud to see we can fight back and be dangerous at any moment, but I ask why they don't do this on 60 minutes or before then. Why wait so long?

"We have old people in the stadium and maybe they died waiting. This was not a game for people who are not healthy. Life as a coach is crazy and the blood pressure is not easy to control, but this is football.

"I must applaud the second Inverness goal, a fantastic free-kick. They looked for free-kicks and they were dangerous from free-kicks, not in the game but from free-kicks. I told our players to keep the ball after we went 2-1 ahead but no, everyone wants to do something special.

"This team must realise that you must decide the game a little earlier, you must wake up a little earlier, and to respect the opponents. Take them seriously. You must think like you are playing against Brazil, or Germany, or Rangers, or Bayern Munich."

Taken from the Scotsman