Hearts qualify for Europe despite Celtic drubbing

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Monday 14 May 2012 12:00

EUROPEAN football is secure for Hearts. That is one of precious few positives to emerge from a 5-0 loss at new SPL champions Celtic on the league season’s final day. Paulo Sergio, the Tynecastle manager, claimed full responsibility for the defeat and stressed it will have no impact on the gargantuan Scottish Cup final with Hibs at Hampden Park this weekend.

With Ian Black and Rudi Skacel due to return for the season’s showpiece, morale will be boosted considerably even if Craig Beattie does not prove himself fit. Hearts won only one of five post-split league fixtures, but the team which starts the first all-Edinburgh Cup final for 116 years will be notably different to yesterday’s selection at Parkhead. Perhaps just as well.

Sergio made seven changes to his side and some of those given the chance to impress with a cup final only days away, such as Mehdi Taouil and Arvydas Novikovas, malfunctioned badly. Whilst the phenomenal Gary Hooper was scoring five times against a porous Hearts defence, St Johnstone were losing 4-0 to Rangers. That result ensured the Edinburgh club finish fifth in the league and qualify for next season’s Europa League second qualifying round, the first leg of which takes place on July 19.

That achievement should not be underestimated given the upheaval at Tynecastle since last summer. Sergio must be commended for his diligence but will also be aware that Hearts’ campaign will be largely judged on events at Hampden on Saturday. It does all come down to one day, one huge assignment, which would allow Hearts to jump to the Europa League play-off round, starting on August 23, if they lift the Cup. The imminent final certainly dictated the slightly weaker team deployed by yesterday as certain players were rested. The most surprising selection of all was Adrian Mrowiec, who recovered from a knee injury which was expected to rule him out until next season.

Celtic rendered the game over as a contest by cruising into a 2-0 lead inside the opening eight minutes. Hooper converted a penalty before half-time and another two in the second half to complete an imperious scoring display. Celtic’s support was already in party mood ahead of the SPL trophy presentation and Hearts, frankly, resembled lambs to the slaughter. Sergio denied his players’ minds were already on the final, although you would have been forgiven for assuming so on the evidence of their performance.

“I know the risks I take, I changed seven players and you understand why,” he said. “We made mistakes too soon, especially on a day like this when Celtic wanted to make a party. I take all responsibility for this result. I don’t want any criticism to my players.”

The only other note of encouragement for the pocket of visiting fans was the performance of a few teenagers. Scott Robinson played for 90 minutes, Denis Prychynenko for 65 and Jason Holt for 45. All three looked confident and composed amid a raucous and intimidating atmosphere.

“Maybe it’s a good lesson for couple of young guys. I believe they can have a good future,” continued Sergio. “This can be good experience for them and I hope they learn from it. It’s not every weekend they experience this atmosphere. I’m talking about players like Robinson, Holt and Prychynenko. They did well but I have not too much to say about the game. Congratulations to Celtic, they are champions and they did well. We’re going to focus on our bigger game.

“We lost some stupid goals but I take all responsibility for that. I made the changes to play with the speed of wingers in behind the Celtic defence but we didn’t use that space. The strategy didn’t work. Logically, if you don’t play with space it’s not good enough. I changed it for the second half but it was too late.

Having admitted that the Cup final was Hearts’ “bigger game”, Sergio was asked if players had been already thinking about it. “No way,” he retorted. “It’s a different game and a different day. We knew it would be very hard here but we are playing the champions and we have had good results against them this season. We beat them twice and they beat us three times in five games. We beat them in the most important one (Scottish Cup semi-final).”

Hearts opened the match in calamitous fashion. First, David Templeton failed to control a looping cross by Emilio Izaguirre and the loose ball landed perfectly for Kris Commons. His shot was parried by Jamie MacDonald, only for Hooper to convert the rebound. Minutes later, Georgios Samaras sauntered almost unchallenged through midfield and defence before squaring for Hooper to calmly roll his second into the net.

The intended 4-3-3 formation employed by Sergio had become a 4-5-1, with Gary Glen at its apex, as Celtic swarmed forward at every opportunity. Taouil was replaced by Prychynenko after just 25 minutes as the Moroccan had been utterly ineffective again, other than conceding free-kicks. The change made little difference. Celtic moved 3-0 ahead with Hooper completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Joe Ledley was fouled by Novikovas.

Holt took over from the Lithuanian at the interval in a move which left us looking at a potential midfield triumvirate for Hearts next season – Holt, Prychynenko and Robinson. Templeton had the visitors’ first attempt at goal on the hour mark, which trickled wide of Fraser Forster’s left post. Just as the Hearts kids looked to be settling into some rhythm, Celtic scored again. Zaliukas’ outstretched leg cut out Commons’ through pass but succeeded only in taking the pace off the ball for Hooper, who rounded MacDonald for his fourth goal.

The fifth was another simple conversion from a low cross by Samaras. By then, Hearts’ fate had long since been decided. Their eyes were cast towards the south side of Glasgow and a derby date with Hibs, the likes of which no-one alive has ever known. “I believe we’re able to win but we have to respect our opponents,” said Sergio. “I respect Hibs, I respect their work and their players. Let’s prepare ourselves for a hard one, it won’t be easy. I read every day players and everybody speaking about the Cup final. I gave instructions to our department that we talk about the Cup final on Monday and Tuesday. After Tuesday there will be no interviews, no talks, nothing.”

The manager is clearly determined to prepare thoroughly for the biggest Edinburgh derby in history. It remains to be seen if yesterday’s events in Glasgow help or hinder those planned preparations.

Taken from the Scotsman