Thomson comes of age

By Barry Anderson
at the New Den

CRAIG Thomson scored two free kicks to secure a comeback win for Hearts but defender Ismael Bouzid suffered a suspected fractured skull after a hefty challenge from Millwall's Steve Morison.
The Algerian was taken straight to hospital, leaving Hearts manager Jim Jefferies to fret. "Bouzid is a big man and when he stays down you know it's serious," he said. "I think (Eggert] Jonsson took one from the same player. It's a suspected fractured skull and he's been taken to hospital for a check. We're waiting to hear back."

Just before the half-hour, two reckless aerial challenges by Morison took out Bouzid and Jonsson within seconds. The midfielder recovered, but the Algerian required five minutes of treatment before being stretchered off and taken to hospital for precautionary examinations.

The incidents spoiled an otherwise good afternoon for Hearts. Thomson has long been one of their most promising youngsters. Yesterday, he came into his own with two beautiful free-kicks to drag his team from behind and secure victory. Having taken the lead through Jonsson's early penalty, Hearts found themselves behind after Liam Trotter's headed double. Thomson, however, playing right midfield in the first half before reverting to right-back in the second, was having none of it. He sent his first set-piece in off the underside of the Millwall crossbar midway through the second period and then unleashed another, this time via a post, for the winner three minutes from time.

Hearts asserted themselves early in the match. Within 12 minutes they had scored via Jonsson's penalty after Millwall's Paul Robinson tripped Lee Wallace. The Icelander's conversion was composed as he slotted the ball low to David Forde's left.

Bouzid's absence may have contributed to Trotter's 45th-minute equaliser. As James Henry's corner arrived in the box, the tall midfielder rose unchallenged to nod the ball beyond Marian Kello.

Within nine minutes of the restart, the same player had powered another header into the Hearts net. Just when the visitors might have feared falling out of the game, Templeton was tripped by Robinson 22 yards from goal, and Thomson arced a quite exquisite free-kick into the top corner via the underside of the Millwall crossbar. Then Thomson intervened again, this time with an even more impressive strike from 30 yards. Substitute Tamika Mkandawire fouled McGowan and the teenager stepped up almost nonchalantly to swerve the ball away from Forde and in off the right post.

Taken from the Scotsman