A thumping headache for Hearts boss

"They don't learn from the past. It is a very simple thing: Discipline. They must learn from mistakes"

The instant and synchronised reaction from the media equipment on said desk was precisely what he wanted from his players during the preceding 90 minutes. Particularly in attack, where a combination of poor final balls and the occasional wayward finish proved costly.

Yet it is worth remembering that Laszlo has been left woefully short and badly let down by some close allies.

He needs a striker, but neither Vladimir Romanov nor Anatoli Korobochka saw fit to recruit one during the January transfer window.

He needs a centre-back, yet the Hearts hierarchy did not manage to provide one after Christophe Berra was sold. Then one of his better defenders wallops an opponent and collects a four-game ban, and a deputy goes down with a virus.

All of the above left the Hearts rearguard looking decidedly makeshift on Saturday, so perhaps it was no surprise to see Andy Dorman slotting home St Mirren's equaliser ten seconds into stoppage time whilst unmarked at the back post.

Prior to that, Hearts dominated their visitors, moving ahead through Eggert Jonsson 13 minutes from time.

Dorman's goal was St Mirren's only effort on target and, while the hosts did not quite conjure a plethora of openings, they were entitled to consider their efforts worthy of three points. Laszlo certainly believed so.

With Robbie Neilson and Jonsson forming an unorthodox central defensive pairing due to the manager's restricted options, Hearts looked relatively untroubled and seemed to be coasting towards victory after the Icelander's goal.

Then Jack Ross' free-kick was nodded across goal by Scott Cuthbert for Dorman, St Mirren's most impressive player, to convert.

"You know 100 per cent that the game goes on for over 90 minutes and you must concentrate for the whole time," said Laszlo. I am angry with some players and I am angry about their attitude.

"In so many games, you can win and lose the game in the last minute and this is what makes me angry.

"They don't learn from the past. It is a very simple thing: Discipline. They must learn from past mistakes.

"It's painful for me, painful for the team and the supporters, especially since the Aberdeen and Dundee United game was also a draw.

"It's a nice Saturday afternoon but it's not the best Saturday afternoon. Especially if you have a team who press and play fantastic football and then, in the last minute, the other team scores.

"You know why we don't learn from the past? The Aberdeen game could also have been 2-2 if their guy had met the free-kick in the last minute." It was at this point he slammed the table.

"Now we made the same mistake and the guy did not miss. I don't accept indiscipline. If you are focused and have the will to win, you will win every time. But if you think everything is over, you lose. We lost two points. We are still in third position, we have a lot of games to go, but they (the players] definitely must do more.

"This was not a great football game. The team had a lot of changes. We had Karipidis out, Zaliukas out, Jason Thomson in, Robbie in a new position. All this together maybe doesn't work a lot of times.

"Our opponents did what they do in other games and we were prepared for the long balls. I told the team all week that this team can score from free-kicks and long balls, especially because we did not have Zaliukas and Karipidis. The goal came from this situation. I think it was the shortest Hearts team on the field, maybe for the last five years."

A saving grace was the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie between Aberdeen and Dundee United. This means league placings and points differences are unchanged as the race for the Europa League continues. Laszlo, though, lamented a late opportunity for Saulius Mikoliunas to win this match for Hearts.

From a cross by the impressive David Obua, the Lithuanian, playing his first game since damaging knee ligaments against St Mirren last November, sliced a first-time shot into the Gorgie skies just six yards from goal. With no visiting defender in attendance it would have been simpler to control the ball and go for a placed finish, but Miko's lack of match practice after over three months out should be remembered in the context of his attempt.

"I think the key point was Miko's big chance," said Laszlo. "I saw a very good delivery from David Obua. If Miko stopped the ball – there was nobody in his area – and pushed it in, then I think the game was finished. It was an unlucky situation. He also gave the foul away in the last minute which led to the goal. If he scored with two minutes left I think we would be talking about a 2-0 or a 2-1 score."

Mikoliunas said: "I think if I scored the chance the game was finished, but you just live and learn. I just tried to take it with the first touch, maybe I should have taken another touch."

Adding to Laszlo's exasperation was a hamstring injury to Larry Kingston, who replaced Gary Glen at half-time and lasted less than seven minutes before pulling up unchallenged. Glen had suffered a head knock but Kingston's injury was the more serious and could keep him out for several weeks.

There was little doubt Gus MacPherson left Tynecastle infinitely happier than his Hearts counterpart on Saturday evening. After all the furore over whether the match should have been delayed by 24 hours, his side performed heartily and with no little energy considering they had played a demanding Scottish Cup tie less than 48 hours beforehand.

"The players were outstanding, we looked very comfortable," he said."It was only from set pieces they caused us problems and that's how we lost the goal, but they reacted in the right manner and we thoroughly deserved the point.

"We never mentioned in the build-up the fact that we had two games close together.We let the players do what they have to do. We told them to be strong mentally and the physical side will take care of itself."

Physical force can be an advantage in football if channelled correctly. This season, it has generally been regarded as one of Hearts' strengths. If Laszlo's players regain their robustness and shake off Saturday's late lapse, the press room table at Tynecastle will be grateful to avoid more poundings.

Taken from the Scotsman