Home win that can’t be priced

Dave Quinn

27 Nov 2011

THEY may not be worth anywhere near the £25 million valuation Vladimir Romanov has put on them, but Hearts’ players ignored the never-ending off-field turmoil to dig out a priceless victory.

With wages long overdue for the second time in as many months and the “for sale” signs up at Tynecastle, the Hearts squad could be forgiven for downing tools, yet their professionalism shone through as they secured a first win since mid-October. Eggert Jonsson’s late close-range header edged a tight contest.

Paulo Sergio, the Hearts manager, again elected not to fulfil his media duties, but will have been heartened by his players’ resolve. In the midst of a five-game touchline ban, he looked like an ordinary punter as he sat alone between Hearts’ unstripped squad members and first-aid staff, but appeared relieved after a worrying winless streak came to an end.

Defeat was perhaps harsh on Inverness, who matched Hearts for long spells and created numerous clear-cut chances, yet an appalling defensive record leaves them rooted to the bottom. “We haven’t kept a clean sheet in 17 games and that makes it difficult to pick up points,” said Terry Butcher, the Inverness manager.

“The defending for the first goal was a joke. Woeful. It’s so frustrating because we played well and showed our quality. Hearts were the better team in the second half, but at 1-1 I thought we could win or at least get a draw. But our defending is a big problem.”

The defending at the first goal was a joke. It’s so frustrating

Windswept and uninteresting is the best description for an instantly forgettable first half. The blustery, almost gale-force, conditions made life difficult for the players, yet referee Craig Thomson showed no sympathy when he booked Jonsson within 120 seconds for a clumsy challenge on Andrew Shinnie.

The sides initially matched up tactically, with three attacking midfielders supporting a lone striker on either side. The Inverness triumvirate of Jonny Hayes, Andrew Shinnie and Richie Foran showed more verve and imagination in the first period as they backed up Gregory Tade. Hearts, by contrast, found it impossible to link with John Sutton.

Tade spurned the best opening of the first period. Marius Zaliukas’ slack pass intercepted by Shinnie and he sent the Frenchman clear but, as he attempted to round Marian Kello, the Hearts goalkeeper read his intentions easily and the chance was lost. Shinnie also crashed a long-range drive into the side-netting.

Hearts’ response amounted to two tame Ryan Stevenson shots, clutched easily by Ryan Esson. Stevenson never reappeared for the second half, but Hearts finally turned up as they took the lead within 25 seconds of the restart. Sutton’s cushioned flick found Skacel on the right angle of the box and he arrowed a sublime volley beyond Esson. It was a fitting way to end Hearts’ four-game goal drought.

Hearts should have built on this lead but instead handed Inverness a lifeline in 57 minutes. Jonsson’s needless hack at Hayes allowed the Irish winger to float a free-kick into the box and Ross Tokely – nursing two dislocated fingers – raced in unchallenged to plant his header past Kello.

Shinnie, who has emerged as a real influence for Inverness this season, then almost made it 2-1. He danced past Andy Webster on the edge of the box but Kello parried his shot and Hayes scooped the rebound over.

Instead it was Hearts who took the spoils, despite being bereft of inspiration until Templeton worked a short corner with Jamie Hamill and then whipped a fierce cross to the front post, where Jonsson was waiting to score.

“We feel asleep,” said Butcher. “Jonsson was unmarked. It’s so frustrating.”

Taken from the Herald