Hearts 3-1 Kilmarnock

Published: 04 Apr 2009

CALUM ELLIOT reckons the only way he’ll get Csaba Laszlo off his back is if he keeps scoring goals.

But even then he’s sure the perfectionist Hearts boss will find something else to pick him up on!

On Saturday the Jambos striker managed to do what none of his attacking colleagues had achieved this season — score twice in the one game.

He could easily have had a hat-trick and maybe should have if Bruno Aguiar had let him take a second-half spot kick that he missed.

But it was the 22-year-old’s all-round game that caught the eye, his runs off the ball, his use of it and ability to bring team-mates into the game.

Those were all qualities Elliot had in abundance when he first broke into the Tynecastle first team under Graham Rix three years ago.

But somewhere along the way he lost his confidence and as a result lost his way.

It took a six-month loan spell at Livingston earlier this season to get him back on the right track, with the striker notching 11 goals in 14 games.

And since his return to the Jambos, Elliot has been hounded by gaffer Laszlo, who is determined to see him fulfil the potential he has undoubtedly always had.

Elliot’s first goal against Killie was an opportunist strike after Marius Zaliukas’ initial effort was blocked by Alan Combe.

But his second was a real thing of beauty, an instinctive volley that was past the keeper before he hit the deck.

Remarkably, the double brought him LEVEL with the club’s top-scoring striker Christian Nade in terms of SPL goals.

And now Elliot is hoping he has done enough to stay in Laszlo’s thoughts over the closing weeks of the campaign.

But he reckons scoring in every single game he plays in may not be enough to please the demanding Laszlo.

He said: “The manager is always on my case and telling me to work harder and things like that.

“Maybe it has taken someone to do that and get on my back and work me harder for me to do well here.

“Hopefully between now and the end of the season I can build on this and get a regular game for Hearts.

“But even if I keep scoring goals I’m not sure I’ll ever get him off my back!

“I see why he is doing it but at times it can be difficult.

“But you just have to get on with it and use his experience to try and help you become a better player.

“Hopefully now I can just build on the last couple of performances between now and the end of the season and try and keep my place.

“I want to try and give the manager something to think about when he’s choosing who to play up front and hopefully I have done that today.

“That was my first start since I came back to the club from Livi and getting two goals will leave the manager with things to consider. We now have two massive games coming up and they are the big games you want to be involved in — so hopefully I will be.”

It initially looked as if the Jambos would be in for an uncomfortable afternoon when Danny Invincibile rose unchallenged to head home Mehdi Taouil’s cross after just eight minutes.

But that was as good as it got for Jim Jefferies’ side, who are now really in the thick of a relegation scrap at the bottom of the table.

Elliot pounced to level the game in the 22nd minute.

And six minutes later he flashed a low volley past Combe with the outside of his right boot after Lee Wallace had picked him out in the box. He went close to adding a third in the 40th minute after he had combined superbly with Andrew Driver to rip the visitors’ defence open.

There was little doubt he looked a man transformed from the one who had been jeered by his own supporters when things were going wrong last season.

Elliot added: “Maybe the fact I went away and played 14 games in a row for Livi helped me. I had never done that in three years.

“I think that can only help you as a player.

“It’s been nearly four months since I came back here but you have got to train hard and wait for the manager to give you a chance.

“I don’t think I ever had a point to prove, I just needed a run of games.

“Now I hope I can be involved until the end of the season so I can show I am a player who can help the team and help us secure a European place for next season.”

Aguiar sealed the win with his fifth goal of the season in the 49th minute, with Elliot once again involved.

But the midfielder became the villain of the piece on the hour mark after Ryan O’Leary had hauled Elliot down in the box.

The Jambos crowd chanted ‘We want Calum’ in a bid to convince the Portuguese ace to give Elliot the chance of a hat-trick. But Aguiar refused and although he beat Combe his effort crashed back off the post.

Laszlo, however, was quick to defend Aguiar afterwards.

The Jambos gaffer, right, insisted: “We are not here to run a Christmas market!

“We have three players in training who practise taking penalties. Bruno didn’t score but that happens sometimes.

“I was very happy with Calum’s performance, and not only the two goals.”

Killie ace Invincibile admits he can’t remember what is feels like to win — after a run of 12 games without a victory.

The Ayrshire men now sit just three points above bottom club Falkirk, who they meet next weekend.

Invincibile said: “I think I’ve forgotten what it feels like to win. It’s been months now and it really drains you.

“We need a pick-me-up, something to get us going and if we do I think we’ll be fine.

“We’ve still got the belief. There are a lot of clubs around us in the same position and all it takes is a bit of confidence and a bit of luck to get a run going. We have just got to pick ourselves up.”