Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0: Choice to recall John Sutton proves masterstroke for Tynecastle boss John McGlynn

10 Dec 2012 00:10

By Michael Gannon

WHETHER he was swayed by the fans may never known but the Hearts gaffer's decision to select the targetman proved the right decision.
John Sutton, Hearts striker John Sutton, Hearts striker

IT’S hard not to feel sorry for John McGlynn. The meddling chairman was a given but now thousands of Hearts fans are dictating his team selections.

The punters demanded John Sutton and got their wish. Mind you, it must be hard to blank the folk who are digging deep to keep the club afloat.

Whether it was relenting to public pressure or a managerial masterstroke, McGlynn made the right choices against Aberdeen.

He went with Sutton and Gordon Smith up front and got the rewards. Sutton gave a masterclass in holding the ball up and Smith burrowed into the awkward areas that weakened the Dons’ foundations.

Ryan Stevenson slammed in a first-half penalty then Smith skinned his marker to tee up sub Callum Paterson for the killer second.

The victory didn’t make up for a week of capital punishment following the defeat to Hibs in the Scottish Cup but it at least took the edge off it.

The Sutton impact could not be underestimated.

Goal hero Stevenson said: “Gordon and John have been biding their time in training and the manager has given them their chance.

“They grabbed it with both hands. It was positive that we had two up front and it led to a good display.

“The defence has been superb this season, with big Andy Webster and Marius Zaliukas winning most balls. But a lot of the time it just comes straight back at us. That didn’t happen this time.”

McGlynn has been copping stick from the stands but the Jambos boss is operating in a straitjacket.

Striker Arturas Rimkevicius will be the latest Lithuanian to check in next week but McGlynn doesn’t know if he will be able to sign the hitman because he has no idea when the club’s transfer embargo will be lifted.

He also knows Rimkevicius’ arrival has an ominous look about it. For all we know the Lithuanian could be the next Rudi Skacel but McGlynn realises he’s coming here because he is cheaper than the ones currently on the books who will need to be shifted out in January.

These are also worrying times for Aberdeen. Craig Brown’s squad has been crippled by injuries and there was a hangdog look about the Dons on Saturday. They are feeling sorry for themselves and alarm bells must be ringing after stopper Mark Reynolds admitted Hearts wanted it more.

He said: “It just seemed every 50/50 ball was falling to them, every time there was a tackle to be made they were the ones making it. It is not good enough. We needed to step up.”

Aberdeen’s season is on a knife edge and tomorrow’s Scottish Cup replay at Motherwell could prove decisive in how things turn out.

They started fairly brightly at Tynecastle but gifted Hearts their opener as Josh Magennis was caught man-handling Ryan McGowan in the box at a Hearts corner.

Stevenson nearly took the rigging off with his spot kick and the Jambos never looked back.

They doubled the lead on 54 minutes when Smith slipped the ball into Paterson’s path and the sub
brilliantly swept into the bottom corner.

Aberdeen chucked on a couple of enthusiastic youngsters and staged something of a late rally with kids Jamie Masson and Declan McManus taking a couple of swipes – but the Dons barely landed a glove.

Stevenson, though, still almost managed to get knocked out. He
staggered off at half-time after a clash of heads but landed the sponsors man of the match award nevertheless.

He said: “As players we need to step up and put the club’s off-field troubles to the side. We need to do our bit by climbing the table because the fans have dug deep.”

Taken from the Daily Record