Hearts fail to break down the Bairns

As afternoon's go this one would be best forgotten, for sure. Hearts could not break down a stubborn Falkirk side and with it had to accept a share of the spoils in disappointing game.

Not that the home support accepted it, far from it. The Tynecastle faithful vented their anger after 90 minutes in which Hearts failed to take advantage of the chances they created, and there were enough to win the game.

Csaba Laszlo made one change to the team that drew 1-1 at Aberdeen the previous week. Christian Nade, arguably the player who turned events at Pittodrie, earned a start in place of David Witteveen.

In a game that looked like producing chances, Hearts opening opportunity fell after decent build up play involving Driver and Wallace, the left-back curling a superb cross for David Obua. His miss was less innocuous than seven days earlier, but the Ugandan's free header was flagged for offside anyway.

Falkirk should have had an early lead after twelve minutes, when the visitors had a gilt-edged chance to go in front. Ismael Bouzid missed Marc Twaddle's diagonal ball, but Kjartan Finnbogason through on Janos Balogh hesitated with the goal gaping, and the chance was gone, the Hungarian having smothered.

Suso was unable to take his big moment on 20 minutes. Ruben Palazuelos glorious long ball split McLean and Barr, and the Spaniard had time to control and lash home (or maybe even dink a header goal-wards with Olejnik stranded). Alas, the winger's touch evaded him, with the stadium on its feet.

The game at this point was devoid of intensity, a feature of Hearts previous four successive home victories. Watched by an expectant crowd, the men in maroon were struggling to stamp their authority upon a team that did not look anything like the cannon fodder their lowly league status would suggest. Fortunately the crowd were woken by a hat-trick of quick opportunities.

Craig Thomson's powder keg corner kick on 31 minutes flashed in front of goal, causing mayhem at the back, with David Obua hurling himself at the ball only to see it fizz past him.

And within 20 seconds the Bairns had stormed the other end of the park. Alex MacDonald's 35-yard effort was pushed around the post by Balogh, the first time either goalkeeper had been seriously tested.

Three minutes later a super move down the left side, involving Nade and Driver, resulted in Andrew's storming in on the angle, before he belted his effort wide. Unquestionably, that had been the best chance of the first half.

The half ended with controversy when Falkirk gifted Suso the opportunity to slip the ball beyond Olejnik. Darren Barr, the visitor's skipper, hauled the Spaniard down as he prepared to put Hearts in front, or at least, attempt to. Referee Chris Boyle had a decision to make. The crowd bade for red, but the referee flashed yellow. Goncalves fired the resultant 18-yard free-kick over the bar.

Ten minutes into the second half, and it was very much 'groundhog day' with the game's enthusiasm from the dying embers of the first period apparently lost. Presumably encouraged by the Bairns' stoic performance, the visiting supporters afforded their heroes rapturous support.

An hour on the clock, and finally a second half chance for Hearts! Craig Thomson's flag-kick, caused havoc for the Bairns backline, and Ruben Palazuelos twice came close to smashing home an opener. Nade then saw his effort well blocked.

Falkirk responded to this danger through Scott Arfield who drilled straight at Janos Balogh after a fast-flowing counter-attack.

With passes going astray frustration was pouring down the stands by now with the home crowd's patience at boiling point. Scott Arfield and substitute Daniel Marcetta then missed successive opportunities as Falkirk committed bodies forward. That hardly helped matters.

Not that Hearts were without threat completely. Suso had the Gorgie Stand on its feet, thumping a half volley wide, after being put through on goal. And the Spaniard got the next chance, after Craig Thomson's free kick was turned back in by Bouzid. Suso's effort was drilled straight at Robert Olejnik.

After suffering from an ankle injury, which rather curtailed his performance Michael Stewart was replaced eleven minutes from time. Some would consider the supporters' response to this change highly unfortunate. Ironic cheers and booing greeted the captain as he left the field. Michael had never hidden, in a game in which the midfielder was hardly alone in the complicity of the performance.

Adding to the uncomfortable feeling about this contest, Jose Goncalves nearly scored the own goal of the century. The defender could only watch on in near horror after lashing Marc Twaddle's deadly cross towards goal, only to see it narrowly miss the target.

If Falkirk were to take something from Tynecastle they would certainly have Robert Olejnik to thank after another near own goal situation moments later. The goalkeeper produced a breathtaking save to deny Brian McLean - and Hearts.

In stoppage time, Hearts should have won it, again Olejnik was the hero, denying Witteveen after Obua headed Thomson's cross across goal. That came but seconds after Bouzid found himself through on goal, failing to take his big chance.

Hearts: Balogh; Thomson, Bouzid, Goncalves, Wallace; Driver (Glen, 85), Stewart (Black, 79), Palazuelos, Suso, Obua; Nade (Witteveen, 67). Booked: Obua. Subs not used: MacDonald, Kucharski, Jonsson, Novikovas.

Falkirk: Olejnik; Barr, twaddle, McNamara, McLean; O'Brien, Arfield, Flynn (Marceta, 63 (Stewart, 89)), Lima; MacDonald (Stewart, 68), Finnbogason. Booked: Barr. Subs not used: Wagenaar, Allison, Lynch , Murdoch.

Referee: Chris Boyle

Top man: Jose Goncalves

Hearts World