Hearts up for a rousing 2-0 success over Celtic

BARRY ANDERSON
PAULO SERGIO needed this. Successive losses at Ayr United and St Johnstone prompted criticism of the Hearts manager just weeks into his reign. Defeating one of the Old Firm was the perfect retort, particularly since Sergio's decisions were the catalysts for victory.
He recalled winger David Templeton to the team and watched him create both goals against Celtic in a 2-0 victory, the second with an exquisite backheel to Ryan Stevenson. He reinstated Rudi Skacel and was rewarded with a rousing opening strike from the Czech. He employed a 4-1-4-1 formation which stifled the visitors and allowed Hearts to spring forward in equal measure. He also instructed his players to be more direct playing the ball forward on a slippery, sodden surface. Each and every choice was vindicated. He may be nicknamed "Mourinho" by some players but Sergio harbours his own unique style. He didn't hang around to take the acclaim for yesterday's win because of a prior engagement with family in Portugal. Shuffling out of Tynecastle, he could be satisfied at a job well done. He had to push through the crowds outside due to a fire drill which evacuated the entire main stand at full-time, yet it still wasn't as loud as the alarm bells ringing inside Neil Lennon's head with Celtic, now in third place, ten points behind SPL leaders Rangers.

Their manager was set upon by a supporter on his previous visit to Gorgie, and yesterday's trip to Tynecastle is not one he will look back on fondly either. Celtic finished with ten men following Kris Commons' dismissal for a reckless challenge on Adrian Mrowiec. Yet even with a full compliment, the visitors were wasteful in attack and tame in midfield. The closing stages were played out to a chorus of "are you Hibees in disguise" as Hearts supporters aimed the ultimate wind-up at their guests. They knew their team deserved to triumph.

"Right throughout the team we played well," opined Gary Locke, deputising for Sergio in the post-match media conference. "If the players can apply themselves like that against Celtic, then we can do it throughout season. We knew it was a good Celtic side and we had to be at our best. I liked our attitude and commitment, we were up for the game from the start, we played well and created a few chances.

"But we've got to build on it. The story of our season is good home form but disappointing away form. We need to be more consistent.

We all have ambitions but we shouldn't get carried away after beating Celtic, we need to beat every team in the league and that's difficult. We can't just beat Celtic then not apply ourselves in two weeks' time.

"The players do get up for these games but other games are just as important. We said to the players they need to show that application for the rest of the season."

The Hearts players were addressed by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov prior to the match, the Russian entrepreneur once again proving a lucky omen on his visit to Scotland. "He said win, that was it," revealed Locke. "When he comes over he likes to chat to the players. He said we had to be up for it and the players applied themselves well. People tell us we always win when he comes over but I don't think it makes a difference."

Lennon admitted Celtic's attacking play wasn't clever enough to outfox Hearts and bemoaned his forwards' inability to convert any of their first-half opportunities. "We conceded a poor goal when in the ascendency after half-time," said the Irishman. "My biggest bug bear is the chances we missed. We were flagrant in front of goal. The first goal changed the nature of the game then one player lost his discipline and let us down badly."

He was, of course, referring to Commons, who will be heavily fined for his red card. Lennon didn't seek excuses and criticised his players for their lack of belief after losing Commons. "It's a lunge and it's high, he was too late. He'll be dealt with accordingly.

"I'm maybe getting 100 per cent but I'm not getting form from them (the players]. There was a lack of belief that we could get back in the game. A draw wouldn't have been the worst result, they should have kept going. But it's disappointing we were wasteful with the ball.

"People were asking questions so they had to go out and show they can handle the pressure. We should have been a goal or two up at the break. We said try to kill it off in the first ten or 15 minutes of the second half. Then we didn't deal with a looping cross, lost a goal and then we're chasing the game.

"It's a concern that we are ten points behind. We have to win our game in hand and cut the gap to seven. We need more consistency. I said to the backroom staff we could maybe change the formation if it's not working, or the personnel. But I'm not making excuses.

"Two or three players are off form and I'm worried there's a lack of belief that they can't pull it round. I didn't see a 2-0 defeat coming at half-time. I thought we were solid, passed the ball well but I'm disappointed with our play in the final third. They're going to have to turn it round, or I'm going to have to. There's a lot of football to go.

"It's got to come from within. We work hard on giving them enough confidence to believe in themselves. A few heads dropped after the sending off and our subs didn't make the impact we were hoping.

A few people have to look at themselves and ask themselves if they're good enough at the moment. For me they're not. I'm angry and disappointed at the minute. It's the result that worries me more than anything else."

Sergio resisted pre-match calls to include the prodigious teenager Scott Robinson in his starting line-up, while Celtic reinstated Commons, who scored and, ironically, was ordered off on his last visit to Tynecastle.

Hearts started with notable tenacity and tested the Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster after only four minutes. Ian Black floated an intelligent free-kick in behind the static visiting defence, and Stevenson's headed flick was pushed away by Forster at full stretch. Minutes later, when Daniel Majstorovic headed a corner clear, Marius Zaliukas struck a first-time attempt which Templeton backheeled on to the post. There was no denying the hosts' domination at that point.

Jamie MacDonald, though, was always likely to be called upon. On 19 minutes he produced two breathtaking saves in quick succession, first to repel Mohamed Bangura's header from James Forrest's cross and then Commons' drive from the resultant corner.

The action reverted to the Roseburn Stand end, where Forster's right palm prevented Jamie Hamill scoring from a free-kick. Then Celtic retorted and MacDonald was required to beat Commons' drive to safety following a misplaced Zaliukas header.

With the match goalless at the interval, the visitors emerged in attacking mode at the start of the second period and Hearts found themselves retreating. When they composed themselves to push forward, they promptly opened the scoring. Hamill's high and speculative ball into the penalty area was brought down by Templeton and dispatched beyond Forster by the left foot of Skacel. The finish was exquisite, the celebrations joyous.

But, in truth, the Czech was just seconds away from being substituted. "The manager was thinking about it," smiled Locke. "I never actually saw the goal because I was telling big Dave (Obua] what to do at corners because he was coming on. It's pleasing for Rudi to get a goal, he's been champing to get a run in the team."

Satisfied with their slender advantage, Hearts received further encouragement seven minutes after Skacel's strike when Commons was ordered off. The Scotland internationalist lunged into a reckless challenge on Mrowiec and received an instant red card from referee Craig Thomson for serious foul play.

The extra man advantage told when Hearts forced a second goal nine minutes from time. Templeton chased Danny Grainger's long ball and the winger's impudent backheel on the goal line took everyone by surprise, not least the Celtic defence and goalkeeper. Stevenson collected and dribbled past Forster before shooting confidently into the net.

Taken from the Scotsman