Hearts 0 Wolves 2

Aug 4 2010 By Gary Ralston

HEARTS were thrown to the Wolves last night as the English big boys underlined the gulf in class between the Premiership and SPL.

Mick McCarthy's men scored twice in the opening 17 minutes and won this friendly by the length of the a1 between Edinburgh city bypass and Berwick upon tweed.

Scotland boss Craig Levein looked on from the tynecastle directors' box and even he would have been cursing a wasted trip as former Hibs hitman Steven fletcher stayed on the bench and ex-Jambo Christophe Berra played only the final 15 minutes.

In fairness, Hearts were without a clutch of top-team starters, including Ismael Bouzid, Ruben Palazuelos and Kevin Kyle. However, they were still brushed aside with alarming ease by a side whose ambition in the English top flight starts with survival.

Boss Jim Jefferies, who hopes to bring in a striker before Saturday's game with Blackburn, said: "I feared a going-over when they scored two early goals but the lads deserve credit for that not happening. I don't think the players should get too down about losing because our fitness levels took a step up and that's pleasing."

Hearts fans in the crowd of 5660 must have suspected it would be one of those nights when Wolves took the lead after four minutes following a foul on Kevin Doyle at the edge of the box. full-back Greg Halford curled a free-kick from the left into the top corner of the net and around a wall so poorly constructed it ran the risk of featuring on BBC's rogue traders.

Goal No.2 came after 17 minutes. a long throw by Halford, who claims to have even stronger arms than Stoke star Rory Delap, saw Stephen Ward climb easily above Adrian Mrowiec to nod powerfully into the net.

Wolves came close again when a volley from andy Keogh off a Doyle knockdown was brilliantly touched over the top by Marian Kello.

Ex-Ayr frontman Ryan Stevenson came close with an effort that flew wide on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, Doyle smacked a post with a left-foot shot.

Home fans cheered in 75 minutes when ex-skipper Berra was sent on but Wolves almost scored again when sub David Jones danced through the centre and shot wide.

Wolves boss McCarthy said: "I know Jim had a few players missing but we still played well."

Hearts - Kello, C Thomson, Barr, Zaliukas, Wal lace, Mrowiec (J Thomson 57), Black (McGowan 57), Santana, Elliot, Stevenson, Templeton (Novikovas 77). Subs not used: Balogh, Kucharski, Smith, MacDonald.

Taken from the Daily Record