Hearts star Andy Driver says two-man strikeforce could be solution for Tynecastle side

16 Dec 2012 08:37

JOHN SUTTON and Gordon Smith have been paired up top in a 4-4-2 formation and Driver reckons it could be the way forward.
Andy Driver, left, with John Sutton Andy Driver, left, with John Sutton

ANDY DRIVER has revealed he hopes Hearts stick with a two-man attack after the capital club scored twice for the second game on the spin to earn a point in Perth.

In a bid to find an answer to his side’s chronic lack of goals this term boss John McGlynn brought John Sutton in from the cold last week and paired him with Gordon Smith.

The decision paid dividends as Hearts dumped Aberdeen 2-0 and McGlynn gave the duo another outing yesterday.

Again it paid off as Sutton opened the scoring from a Driver free-kick before the big hitman turned provider to set up the winger for the second.

And Driver is now adamant 4-4-2 is the way to go for the Gorgie outfit.

He said: “I hope 4-4-2 is going to be the way ahead for us. I like it, as a wide man it gives you more options
up the park.

“Hopefully, if we can keep the results going the way we are at the moment, we can keep playing that way.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team and in the past few weeks we’ve looked like scoring a lot of goals. We’re getting chances.”

The Hearts goals came all too easily from a St Johnstone perspective but the home side were minus key defenders in Dave Mackay, Frazer Wright and Steven Anderson and their defence was always going to be under pressure.

David McCracken was even forced to answer an SOS as he made an early comeback from a terrible cheekbone injury to play.

And Saints manager Steve Lomas was full of praise for his half-fit stopper.

He said: “I don’t normally give individual praise but for David to play four weeks after having surgery on a triple fracture that needed plated and screwed back together, I’ll give him all the credit in the world.

“I thought he was absolutely fantastic, as was Tom Scobbie at centre-half. I was delighted for both of them.”

Taken from the Daily Record