Hearts 3 -2 Falkirk: Hearts start to take steps in right direction

Published Date: 15 February 2010
By Alan Pattullo
HE REMEMBERED which way to turn having emerged from the tunnel, and thereafter Jim Jefferies continued to negotiate his long-awaited homecoming in equally competent manner. Jefferies, whose last stint as manager at Tynecastle came long before Csaba Laszlo switched the home and away dug-outs, celebrated his side's 3-2 win as if he'd succeeded in bringing the Scottish Cup back to Gorgie again.
One could understand the joy. He had not only just seen his beloved Hearts win for the first time in four games since he returned at the end of last month, but they also scored three times in the process for the first time this season. These were also the first goals of Jefferies' third stint at Tynecastle. When he turned with fists clenched towards the main stand enclosure at the end, it really felt as though a new – or should that be old? – era had begun again.

"They tell me it's the first time we have scored three goals for a long, long time," said Jefferies later. "You can see we are trying to get the message through to be a bit more positive, to get the ball down and pass it. We've asked them to do that in the time we have had to work with them. But they have to start believing it."

Jefferies could be heard exhorting his players to push up the park throughout Saturday's encounter. Suso Santana was urged to attack Marc Twaddle at every opportunity. "Take him on, Suso, take him on!" hollered the manager just after the half-hour mark. The winger finally got his reward for persistence in the second-half, rifling in his side's vital second goal in confident fashion after Robert Olejnik had spilled a cross.

Saturday was a more than useful exercise since it displayed what can happen if you take a gamble. Or even what happens if you don't. Who knows what was going through Lee Wallace's mind as he took up position with the ball on the far left side of the field? He is accustomed to crossing when in this position. But in the flick of an eye, and the swish of a boot, the ball somehow ended up in the back of Olejnik's goal, with the goalkeeper also entangled in the netting having made a frantic attempt to reposition himself as it became apparent to him that this was a shot disguised as a cross, or vice-versa.

It was not the way many supposed Hearts' goal famine would be broken. Such have been their difficulties in the penalty box – last week goalkeeper Marian Kello made the very believable assertion that he could not recall Hearts even having a shot on target Jefferies' first three games – that it seemed likely a goal, when it came, would explode in off somebody's backside.

Even that sort of luck continues to elude those in the striker department at Hearts, although David Obua looked a better option in attack than Christian Nade. He also looked a far better player than he did in the outing which offered Jefferies his first impression of the Ugandan. This was during a 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone at Perth less than 24 hours after the manager arrived, with Obua putting in a feckless shift in midfield.

Given another chance in attack, he gave a rather more favourable account of himself. Jefferies called this a "big plus", though, as far as Nade is concerned, it might increase the likelihood that we have seen the last of him in a maroon jersey.

Nade found himself exiled as he awaits the findings of a disciplinary procedure following a reported bust-up with Ian Black in the dressing-room at Celtic Park last week. Interestingly, Black seemed happy to make hay from the incident when celebrating his glorious strike for his side's third goal, but then would not talk about it afterwards. Having seen his 25-yard shot crack into the net off the underside of Olejnik's bar, Black hared off to celebrate, and, in the traditional style of a footballer, referenced – with a burst of shadow-boxing – what had occurred in the sanctity of the dressing-room a few days earlier.

Nade has been cast as the aggressor, and Black's goal on Saturday saw his halo given another shine. For Jefferies, Black's bustling all-round performance was a welcome contribution from a player whose displays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle won him the move to Tynecastle. Black later admitted he knew he had more to give, with Laszlo having failed to get the best from the midfielder.

While Nade's future at Hearts looks questionable, second chances seemed to be the order of the day for Jefferies, with Jose Goncalves having been permitted more time to think over his initial rejection of a reportedly excellent new contract offer. Dawid Kucharski – perhaps more due to necessity than design – continued at centre-half in the continued absence of Goncalves, and also the injured Ismael Bouzid. He looked ill at ease at times, and even suffered the indignity of diverting Twaddle's cross into his own net as Falkirk succeeded in getting back on level terms in first-half injury-time. Nevertheless he came through it, helped by Marius Zaliukas – Hearts' most solid performer – beside him.

The witnessing of two goals in the opening half – admittedly both of the freakish variety – was a surprise bonus. The knowledge that meetings between these sides had produced only two goals in four previous clashes weighed heavily on the neutral prior to kick-off. The goal-fest at Pittodrie in the lunch-time kick-off served only to mock those who anticipated a low-scoring deadlock between sides whose agendas were framed by a certain desperation.

Hearts, performing in their own lair for the first time since the dismal 3-0 loss to Aberdeen on 27 January which preceded Laszlo's departure, knew they had to give the fans something more to cheer than simply the sight of Jefferies.

Falkirk, meanwhile, craved the result which would provide their own new chapter with a sense of lift-off. New manager Steven Pressley looked the part in a natty jacket, and seemed to revel in the villain status he now holds in the eyes of the Hearts faithful. But on this evidence, there is much to be done if he is to carry through his firm pledge to keep Falkirk in the SPL. The concession of three goals to a Hearts side which, by Jefferies' own admission, lacks a cutting edge is the mark of a side destined for the dreaded drop.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Marius Zaliukas (Hearts)

Jim Jefferies mentioned him afterwards, and rightly so. Zaliukas, who was captain for the day in the absence of the suspended Michael Stewart, looked commanding throughout, and also kept his eye on the initially unsteady Dawid Kucharski beside him at centre-half. A reliable performer, who just shaded David Obua, who brought a new dimension to Hearts' attack, and Eggert Jonsson.

Taken from the Scotsman