Little to cheer but spirits will be raised

Graeme Macpherson

26 Aug 2011

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 HEARTS 0

WHO would have thought Hearts would enjoy the best result on another traumatic night for Scottish football? Paulo Sergio's side, admittedly, had next to nothing to play for at White Hart Lane after their embarrassing 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg, but there was still much to admire in this performance that married doggedness and determination with moments of attacking enterprise.

A goalless draw was the very least they deserved. The result, of course, means Hearts still join Celtic and Rangers in exiting the Europa League before the group phase, and the Edinburgh club should not be exempt from the inevitable inquest into the state of Scottish football that will rumble on for some time, given how poor they were in the first leg at Tynecastle.

This, though, was much better from Hearts. Sergio had admitted beforehand he was taking "a massive risk" by making seven changes to his side to give fringe players some first-team exposure but it turned out to be a successful strategy. Hearts, in the first half in particular, were everything that they weren't in the first leg; direct, aggressive and quick, and also enjoyed a slice of luck when Jamie MacDonald saved a first-half penalty from Harry Kane, the Spurs debutant. Hearts now go into the first Edinburgh derby of the season on Sunday with their confidence and reputation at least partially restored.

It was always going to be impossible to judge this game in isolation given the previous week, but Hearts looked up for it from the first whistle, in stark contrast to the first leg when they seemed overawed by their rivals' reputation.

Their full-backs pushed on, the midfield snapped into tackles, and Gordon Smith, operating as the sole striker of a 4-4-1-1 formation, looked more comfortable than any 20-year-old rookie ought to.

Granted, there was little really for a radically altered Spurs side to get worked up about – they had earned an easy night after the first leg – but it wasn't long before Redknapp or one of his coaches was barking instructions at their players. Around 2500 Hearts fans had made the journey south, clearly not put off by the fact that the tie was well beyond their team, and made an impressively ferocious racket.

They thought they had a goal to cheer after just 12 minutes when Smith launched a ferocious shot that thudded against the crossbar, but they would have something else to celebrate when Spurs missed a penalty. Kane was felled by MacDonald as he sped into the box and Anastasios Kakos, the referee, barely hesitated. MacDonald was booked for the infringement but made instant amends by diving to his right to parry Kane's kick.

The visiting fans behind the goal threatened to self-combust with excitement. Hearts had conceded after just four minutes in the first leg but they looked far more resilient this time, even if Spurs did have their moments. Roman Pavlyuchenko warmed MacDonald's hands with a drive, while the impressive Kane brought another save.

Hearts didn't produce a great deal more to trouble Carlo Cudicini in the Spurs goal beyond Smith's early effort but they at least posed a persistent threat. David Templeton, full of running, shot just wide in the second half, Eggert Jonsson was similarly adventurous but off-target, before a Rudi Skacel effort was deflected wide.

The Hearts supporters were by then almost giddy with excitement. "Harry, Harry, give us a wave," they implored the Spurs manager and, after he duly responded, a new song was quickly dreamt up. "Harry is a Jambo, Harry is a Jambo." It was that kind of match.

Spurs offered something of a late flourish, Niko Kranjcar's shot was well saved, while Pavlyuchenko blazed two efforts high into the stand, but Hearts' resistance stood firm.

Their bright performance ensured the latest tram fiasco remained the most embarrassing Edinburgh story of the day. This may be the end of the line for Hearts' European journey this season but at least they alighted with a sense of pride restored. "We're the last team in Europe," their fans crowed upon hearing news from Sion and Ibrox. It was not much to boast about at all.

Taken from the Herald