Csaba Laszlo inspires renewed team spirit at Tynecastle

But not any more on the basis of Saturday, where they showed a unity and determination missing since the early days of George Burley’s tenure. Hearts took another step closer to a place in the Europa League for next season with a thrilling victory over European rivals, Aberdeen, at a Tynecastle that reverberated throughout with a newly enthused home support.

Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts head coach, became the longest-serving manager under the tenure of Vladimir Romanov, the club owner, on Saturday and there are no signs yet that the Lithuanian banker will dispense with the services of the Hungarian in the near future. Laszlo’s appointment from the Uganda national team was as daring as it was surprising but has been shown to be a rare masterstroke by Romanov.

Such is the positive nature of the head coach that you can’t help but warm to him. Put him in a room full of City banking bosses and even they would come away feeling better about themselves.

His team are far from the finished article and will remain so while the playing budget remains strained, but he is building a team in the nature of himself. They work hard and are prepared to go that extra yard in the search for success. If Laszlo can maintain this philosophy, it’ll be him, rather than one of his players, who will be headhunted by bigger clubs.

Hearts came from behind on Saturday after an uncharacteristically sublime volley by Darren Mackie, the normally erratic Aberdeen striker, found the top corner. However, goals from Christian Nade and Andrew Driver put them two points clear in third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Laszlo said: “I have the possibility to be German, although I am Hungarian. I have this mentality: you don’t give up. The young players understand this. As long as you have the possibility, you don’t give up and believe in yourself. If you feel strong then you find in two seconds the weakness of the opponent.” It may sound straight out of self-help guide, but it appears to be working.

Aberdeen played well in parts but failed to match the desire of their opponents. Jimmy Calderwood, the Aberdeen manager, said: “I am normally raging after a defeat, but not this time because we had such a young team.”

Heart of Midlothian (4-4-2): J Balogh 7 — R Neilson 6, H Karipidis 7, E Jonsson 5, L Wallace 6 — D Obua 7, M Stewart 7, B Aguiar 8, A Driver 8 — G Glen 6 (sub: R Palazuelos, 81min), C Nade 7 (sub: A Mrowiec, 90). Substitutes not used: J MacDonald, D Cesnauskis, J Thomson, C Elliot, D Templeton. Booked: Nade, Stewart.

Aberdeen (4-4-2): J Langfield 7 — R Foster 6, Z Diamond 7, S Severin 7, C Mulgrew 6 — D Young 6 (sub: A Considine, 76 3), M Kerr 7, S Duff 6 (sub: C Maguire, 76 4), J Vidal 6 — L Miller 6, D Mackie 7 (sub: T Wright, 79). Substitutes not used: B Bossu, S Stewart, M Paton, P Pawlett. Booked: Foster.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk