Limp Hearts provide easy pickings as Wolves display their superiority

Blackburn Rovers will form exactly the same type of obstacle as Wolves did last night in that they are likely to be physically dominant. This is before taking into account the obvious contrast in skill-levels.

Wolves provided Hearts with a lesson in technique last night. But the home side stuck to their task and settled after the interval. By then, though, the game had ceased being much of a spectacle and interest turned to the Wolves bench, where a pair of recognisable faces sat.

Christophe Berra, the former Hearts skipper, was sent on with just over 15 minutes remaining, to the expected acclaim. Steven Fletcher was not even granted this meagre portion of playing time and remained in the dug-out throughout.

There was, then, little satisfaction for Craig Levein, who watched from the directors' box. The Scotland manager had hoped to assess Berra and Fletcher, who for one night only was public enemy No 1. But the former Hibs striker was not even listed among the official raft of substitutes. Perhaps Fletcher wished to sneak into Tynecastle incognito. But there was never much hope of that. As soon as he emerged for his first warm-up stint after 14 minutes he was assailed by jeers.

Not even the presence of training partner Berra could douse the ire of the critics. The former Hearts defender had, though, been warmly applauded prior to kick-off.

Of those wearing the new white-fronted home jerseys, perhaps only Barr was of real interest to Levein. The former Falkirk defender has been called up by Scotland before. He might reasonably think that his international prospects have only been enhanced by a move to Tynecastle. But he endured a difficult start last night as Wolves caused Hearts problems from the word go. Barr was forced to tug back Kevin Doyle after just three minutes, as Wolves rampaged forward. Right-back Greg Halford stepped up to send the free-kick swinging into the Hearts net, past a poorly-assembled wall. The clock had barely struck seven, the appointed kick-off time in an attempt to attract families to the match.

Late-comers had been caught out by referee Dougie McDonald's decision to begin three minutes early. But those who were disappointed at missing a goal were soon presented with another, though again it was claimed by the away side. Halford turned provider this time but no-one expected his throw-in to reap such a rich dividend. This group included the Hearts defence who were statue-esque in the extreme as the ball looped into the box. An unmarked Ward rose to head the ball into the net, though the lack of challenge was alarming. Adrian Mrowiec was rooted to the spot, and skipper Marius Zaliukas led some angry exchanges in the aftermath.

It was a familiar story of a Scottish Premier League side meeting a team from the English equivalent. Wolves looked so much more impressive in terms of physique and size as much as anything else. The battle, if you could call it that, between Suso, the Hearts winger, and Wolves left-back George Elokobi was an almost comical mis-match. Elokobi is a brute of a defender and kept the little Spaniard in check. After one sturdy challenge from behind, the winger threw Elokobi a stare that made the Tynecastle main stand enclosure titter with amusement. It was that kind of evening.

But those home fans wishing to attempt a serious analysis of the fare on offer cannot have been cheered by the first-half, although Hearts did threaten after the half-hour mark. Barr sent a header over the bar from a David Templeton free-kick, while a Ryan Stevenson effort trickled just wide on the stroke of half-time. But between these attempts Keogh might have extended the Wolves lead had his volley not been tipped over the bar by Marian Kello. Substitute David Jones might have made it three in the second-half when he was sent clean through, though his shot was dinked just wide.

Hearts: Kello; C Thomson, Barr, Zaliukas, Wallace; Suso, Black, Mrowiec, Templeton; Elliot, Stevenson. Subs: Balogh, Kucharski, McGowan, Novikovas, Thomson, Smith, MacDonald.

Wolves: Hahnemann; Halford, Stearman, Moyokolo, Elokobi; Keogh, Edwards,Foley, Milijas, Ward; Doyle. Subs: Ikeme, Jarvis, Jones, Guedioura, Berra, Fletcher, Craddock, Vokes.

Taken from the Scotsman