Ian Black on way out of Hearts

By ALAN PATTULLO
Published on Monday 30 April 2012 05:08

A WEEKEND when Hearts produced an impressive performance to stay in the hunt for the European places ended on a sour note for the club’s supporters as it was revealed last night that Ian Black, arguably the Tynecastle side’s best player this season, will be leaving in the summer.

The Gorgie club confirmed on its website that it would not be taking up an option to extend the midfielder’s contract. The 27-year-old said: “I understand the club’s position and while it is unfortunate they will not be extending my contract due to the fact they plan to operate with a smaller squad next season, I hope I can go on and further my career. I have enjoyed my time here and believe I have been good for the club.

“The fans have always been brilliant to me and I’d like to say a special thankyou to them for their support over the years. There are some massive games for me to focus on between now and the end of the season and that is my priority.”

One of those “massive games” is, of course, the Scottish Cup final against Hibernian a fortnight on Saturday and, with that in mind, one player picked the perfect time to remind his manager, Paulo Sergio, what he is capable of. Arvydas Novikovas has been a habitual fringe man throughout his Hearts career.

It is fair to say that the Lithuanian youngster’s prospects of playing a part at Hampden Park looked bleak until a moment of magic with just six minutes left of Saturday’s clash with Dundee United, and having only been on the park for four. In the blink of an eye, he evaded one challenge and then, from just inside the box, drew back his left foot, before firing the ball high into Dusan Pernis’ top corner. The goalkeeper never had an earthly.

Talk about seizing your chance. Then talk about seeing it almost go – literally – belly up. Novikovas’ strike was exceptional enough to deserve being celebrated with a flourish. However, the backwards somersault he then attempted did not quite go to plan, after team-mate David Templeton got in the way. Novikovas took a tumble and ended up in a rather ungainly heap on the ground.

Happily, the 21-year-old got up again and made sure his walk back to his own half betrayed no hint of injury, while Sergio looked on. The manager had already endured the concerning sight of Craig Beattie limping from the field after just half an hour, with what has been described as a tweaked hamstring.

Sergio expressed annoyance afterwards when asked whether this may have placed Beattie in danger of missing next month’s final with Hibernian. He emphasised that he was only interested in discovering whether Beattie would be back in time for Hearts’ next game, against Motherwell at Tynecastle tomorrow night.

It is clear Sergio is refusing to deviate from his stated position on the cup final. He will begin to think about it on the Monday after the league season ends. It is an admirable stance, if a frustrating one for those who struggle to place Hearts’ activities in any other context at present. Sergio, though, wants to focus on the task in hand first – finishing as high as possible in the league.

Novikovas did, however, let slip that Beattie had mentioned something in the dressing room about “hoping” to be fit for the final, so there must be some doubt in the mind of the player himself. It would be a significant blow to Hearts – and a major fillip for Hibs – if Beattie does not recover in time.

Novikovas at least proved there is strength in reserve at Tynecastle. He again impressed when coming on as substitute, striking the equaliser which took Hearts within a point of St Johnstone in the battle for the Europa League places. Perhaps understandably since he has only started one match this year, Novikovas did not sound convinced that he can do enough to force a starting place at Hampden. “I hope I am going to come off the bench in the final and impress again,” he said afterwards. “I don’t think I am going to start the next game. After one substitute appearance you cannot expect to play the next game”

Novikovas’ opportunity came when he replaced Andrew Driver, as Hearts upped the ante. At times it looked as though they were playing with just two defenders. Black and Darren Barr, meanwhile, held the midfield together and everyone else swarmed forward. It was exhilarating to watch, particularly after a first half that had seemed surprisingly lifeless. There was, though, a goal to rival Novikovas’ strike by Willo Flood. His first of the season was worth waiting for and flew in from a distance of 30 yards, after the midfielder latched onto a poor headed clearance by Hearts full-back Ryan McGowan.

Such a display of guile and accuracy by Flood made it all the more dismaying to see United throw away the advantage in such a lacklustre manner. McGowan’s cross was headed out by Robbie Neilson and though Rudi Skacel’s header was on target, it lacked the venom to convince many it would end up in the back of the net. To the horror of the United fans, it did. Both Pernis and Neilson looked culpable.

United managed to restore their lead after 20 minutes of the second half when Gary Mackay-Steven’s shot evaded a forest of legs and sneaked into the corner of the net, after Hearts failed to clear a corner. The goal came against the run of play and when Templeton’s shot hit the bar, after good work by the impressive Suso Santana, it looked as though it was not going to be the visitors’ day. But the bold Novikovas had other ideas.

Taken from the Scotsman