Hearts boss hails Fraser Mullen after Auchinleck Talbot debut

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Monday 9 January 2012 12:07

HEARTS manager Paulo Sergio acclaimed teenage debutant Fraser Mullen as man-of-the-match and praised the defender’s courage in taking a first-half penalty against Auchinleck Talbot.

Andrew Leishman, the Auchinleck goalkeeper, saved Mullen’s 19th-minute spot-kick as Hearts recorded a narrow 1-0 win against the spirited Ayrshire Junior club in the Scottish Cup fourth round.

Yet the 18-year-old Mullen recovered from that disappointment admirably to deliver a commanding display at right-back. Sergio felt he played like a veteran and finished as the game’s outstanding player.

“For me, he is the man of the match,” said the manager. “I didn’t say to him to take the penalty, I was screaming to Scott Robinson to take it. But I like the guts and courage of a kid who picks the ball up and says ‘I’ll take it’. That courage means a lot to me. Gary Locke told me Mullen takes penalties for the Under-19s. The miss did not influence my opinion of his performance. He played like a 35-year-old man.” Sergio also granted a senior debut to Jordan Morton whilst striker Gordon Smith struck the game’s only goal six minutes from the end. The Portuguese said he will continue to utilise his younger players.

Taken from the Scotsman