Poor Elgin feel Jambos four-ce

THERE wasn't quite an avalanche of goals but this was every bit the straightforward exercise it was supposed to be for Hearts. Even without the in-form Calum Elliot due to a knee injury, they were resounding victors and progressed to the Co-operative Cup third round with a second successive 4-0 scoreline. Darren Barr and Marius Zaliukas were also absent due to knee complaints but weren't required either.

Against Scotland's lowest ranked team - Elgin currently prop up the Third Division - the SPL side were far superior and commanded play virtually from first whistle to last. Goals from Eggert Jonsson, Kevin Kyle, Arvydas Novikovas and Scott Robinson were sufficient to suppress Elgin's spirit, if not quite enough to silence the noisy band of travelling fans.

Only two stands opened at Tynecastle for this midweek cup tie and a crowd of just under 5000 watched an entertaining home performance against a team lacking both fitness and guile. Elgin have won only once this season - a 3-2 triumph over Ayr in the previous round of this tournament. They grafted admirably but too often, basic necessities like first touch and awareness let them down.

Novikovas' goal was the pick of the evening, the result of a flowing passing sequence which stretched from one 18-yard line to the other. The young Lithuanian planted his left-footed shot high beyond Steven Dunn, the Elgin goalkeeper, with the aid of a slight deflection and was acclaimed by his manager afterwards.

"He's a talent, no doubt about it," said Jim Jefferies. "He still needs to find that bit of consistency. He's left sided but he showed he can cut inside with the goal. I think David Templeton is more comfortable on the left although he can play on the right. We have good competition for places in the wide areas but we'd leave ourselves a bit open if we played them both every week.

"Last night was virtually a 4-2-4. The young boys had licence to go and play and get crosses in, that's why I played Craig Thomson at right back. I knew he would get forward and he played a fantastic ball in for Kevin Kyle's goal. We shared the goals around but their goalkeeper had some marvellous saves.

"It was one of those nights. Justice would have been 5-0 at half-time, but credit to the goalie, he kept it down to 2-0. You are looking for that third goal to kill them off which came. I think after that we knew the game was won and we were a bit slack, people like Kevin tired.

We gave the ball away too much for my liking but wee Scott Robinson came on and got a great little finish. I think 4-0 was well justified.

"The lower-division clubs are always looking for a shock but there was so much gulf in class. They did well to keep the score down to four. Kevin could have had a hat-trick but for their goalkeeper."

Jonsson scored first on 11 minutes. Elgin cleared Craig Thomson's corner only for Ian Black to instantly return the ball into the penalty area. Jonsson swivelled on the six-yard line to strike a shot which careered into the air off a defender and arced over Dunn.

It was evident very early that Kyle had serious designs on scoring in this match. From Thomson's right-sided cross, he planted a downward header on goal but was denied by Dunn's left palm. It was the goalkeeper's toe which thwarted Black from point-blank range moments later. For his third act of defiance, he repelled Ryan Stevenson's header and watched Ruben Palazuelos strike a post from the rebound.

Kyle could not be contained any longer, and on 33 minutes his header from another of Thomson's precise deliveries flew into the Elgin net.

That about put paid to any notions of a Highland surprise and, with Hearts monopolising possession, the only shock was that half-time arrived without further net-bulging.The finest goal of the night arrived 14 minutes after the restart.

The ball was moved effortlessly from one end of the pitch to the other in a beautiful passing move involving Ismael Bouzid, Lee Wallace, Jonsson, Kyle, Stevenson and Novikovas. When Stevenson backheeled intelligently while heading towards the corner flag, Novikovas collected possession and dispatched a ferocious drive past Dunn.

Elgin introduced 6ft 9in striker Paul Millar, nephew of Hearts goalscoring legend John Robertson, to alter the dynamics of their team and redirect play towards the largely inactive Janos Balogh. The effect was minimal, however, and the hosts continued pouring forward at will against tiring part-time opponents. Six minutes from time substitute Robinson concluded the scoring, taking Suso's pass and rounding Dunn to calmly slot into an empty net.

"It's been a while since Hearts won the League Cup but we aren't thinking about that yet," said Jefferies. "It would be nice to get to another final. It's still a major trophy that everyone wants to win.

"I thought it was a good exercise for us and we were very professional. Darren Barr and Marius Zaliukas didn't play, Lee Wallace was doubtful and I maybe kept him on too long. He has a touch of inflammation which keeps flaring up but we didn't want to make too many changes.

"Stevenson and Jonsson would've played no matter who was fit. It was good for them and Kevin Kyle to get 90 minutes.

"Janos Balogh also got game time because you never know with a goalkeeper.

Taken from the Scotsman