Sergio exits stage left following pantomime show at Tynecastle

3 Oct 2011

Paulo SERGIO hurried away from Tynecastle, the top three buttons of his shirt undone, his hair still damp from the shower and a bustle to his movements as he fended off supporters looking to congratulate him.

He attracts either derision or acclaim, and this was a time for praise for the Hearts manager as he left a ground still resonating from an occasion that was, at times, raw and uncompromising.

Vladimir Romanov, the Tynecastle club’s owner, brought Sergio from Portugal to replace Jim Jefferies and impose a continental manner on the team – something stylish and composed, something idealistic – but even in front of the watching Russian, this was not an occasion for fine distinctions. Ground had to be fought over, and the nature of the contest was unflinching. Sergio’s side prevailed, though, and so something of the glory belonged to him.

Too often, however, what rose around this game was a feeling of spite. There were occasions when Tynecastle was lost to the urges of the two sets of supporters trying to offend each other; when even before kick-off, one Celtic fan could be seen leaning over a barrier and making a throat-slitting gesture towards the Hearts fans in the bottom corner of the main stand, one of whom was forcibly removed from the premises by police and stewards moments later.

The two incidents may have been unrelated, but the singing was not. The away fans indulged in pro-IRA chanting, while the home support responding with, “there’s only one John Wilson”, in reference to the fan who received an eight-month jail sentence for beach of the peace after sprinting on to the touchline and lunging at Lennon during Celtic’s last visit to Tynecastle in May.

Tynecastle was lost to the urges of two sets of fans trying to offend each other

Lennon was often the central figure here, at least in mockery and support. He was regaled by the travelling Celtic support, but urged to wave by a gleeful Hearts crowd as the game neared its conclusion. Only once did he react, but that was when he heard a lone abusive voice above the din, then stared back before smiling ruefully. In the end, what troubled Lennon was the performance of a team that lacked a hard heart or the wilfulness to cope with this occasion. He might, too, wonder about choices he has made, since 10 of the starting line-up were signed by Lennon himself.

In being organised and strong-willed, Hearts were able to take advantage of Celtic’s fallibilities, so there was a vindication in this result, even if the home side’s display was often a little ragged. There was an edge to the game, a kind of fierce expression, but in Andy Webster, Ian Black, Ryan Stevenson and the bluntly impressive Eggert Jonsson, Hearts had the characters to thrive in the tension and the uncompromising atmosphere.

Sergio spent most of the game on the touchline, often barking instructions at his players, and at one stage turning to the bench as Gary Locke, the first-team coach, was shouting out a message, and rebuking him fiercely. Moments later, he shared a calmer exchange with Locke, but the sense was of a manager who was struggling with his own furies. Romanov was watching from the main stand, and had addressed the players beforehand, as he commonly does.

Under Sergio, Hearts have defeated Hibernian and now Celtic, but also lost to St Johnstone, so his reign still seems uncertain. The players, mockingly, refer to him as Mourinho, and some of his relationships with his lot are strained, but then Sergio was brought to the club after the transfer window had closed and Jefferies had signed four new players.

Only two of them played yesterday – Jamie Hamill and Danny Grainger – while Mehdi Taouil watched forlornly from the sidelines and John Sutton, who was offered on loan to several clubs after signing in the summer from Motherwell, was nowhere to be seen. In an ideal world, Sergio would build his own side, but instead compromises have to be made. He still manages to confound, with Jonsson not being a regular starter this season, despite his ability and physical presence, while Adrian Mrowiec has played in several different positions in midfield and defence.

Rudi Skacel has been something of an outcast, but he remains capable of being an inspirational figure. Sergio had to adapt to the circumstances of this game, its frantic nature and the air damp with rain and heavy with indignation.

As the Hearts players lined up for the start of the second half, Sergio beckoned Black across and spoke intently to the midfielder, whose display was disciplined but still imposing. The manager might yet create a team that combines the refinement and the glory that the Tynecastle club’s owner demands, but for now he can only be resourceful and concede something of his philosophy as he attempts to find the much-needed consistency Hearts are lacking.

Taken from the Herald