Csaba Laszlo injects fighting spirit

While the Clydesdale Bank Premier League has been full of ups and downs, with teams failing to meet expectations, the resilience of Heart of Midlothian is surely not open for debate now.

When Csaba Laszlo swept into power last summer, many assumed the Hungarian manager would give it his best and, as many before him under Vladimir Romanov’s somewhat abrupt style of leadership, would inevitably end up on the scrap heap.

However, Laszlo has managed to inject a fighting spirit into his squad and, after coming back from Danny Invincibile’s opener for Kilmarnock after eight minutes, the Edinburgh side carved out a welcome victory with two goals from Calum Elliot and another from Bruno Aguiar.

The Hearts support may not agree with the Hungarian’s 4-5-1 formation, but one thing is certain: he has transformed the Gorgie team into a tough, compact, hard-to-beat outfit.

On many occasions this season, Hearts have found themselves behind in a match and, somehow, they have have dug deep and ground out a victory, something they would not have come close to last season when they finished in the bottom six. Laszlo has instilled a belief within the squad that they are capable of achieving what their controversial owner is demanding every time the season kicks-off, and Elliot has heaped praise on his manager.

“The gaffer has been tough on me, but now I realise it was only to push me to become a better player for Hearts,” Elliot said. “He has given me a chance the last couple of weeks and, hopefully, I have given him something to think about.”

And Laszlo has hinted the new Gorgie favourite may spearhead the club’s pursuit for third spot this season. “Calum has had a few problems in the past, but he got a fantastic reaction from the fans,” he said. “We kept him busy with lots of good passing and he got two goals, which is great for the team.”

Kilmarnock are still searching for their first win in 2009 and are in serious danger of relegation. However, Jim Jefferies remains defiant. “I’m disappointed because I thought the early goal would galvanise us,” the manager said. “But, if you’re going to sit off players like we did today, then that’s asking for trouble.”

Heart of Midlothian (4-5-1): J Balogh 6 – R Neilson 7, L Zaliukas 6, C Karipidis 7, L Wallace 8 – D Obua 6, M Stewart 7 (sub: E Jonsson 80min), R Palazuelos 7, A Driver 7, B Aguiar 7 (sub: M Tullberg, 90) – C Elliot 8 (sub: C Nade, 89). Substitutes not used: J MacDonald, D Cesnauskis, R McGowan, D Templeton.

Kilmarnock (4-4-2): A Combe 6 – G Murray 6 (sub: W Gibson, 46 6), S Ford 6, D Lilley 6, G Hay – M Taouil 6, M Pascali 5 (sub: R O’Leary, 57 6), J Hamill 6, D Fernandez 6 (sub: S Anson, 78 6) – D Invincibile 5, K Kyle 5. Substitutes not used: D Rascle, F Wright, G Skelton, I Flannigan. Substitutes not used: Taouil, Pascali, Kyle.

Referee D Somers. Attendance 13,659

Taken from timesonline.co.uk