Effectiveness is down to finding the route to goal, says John McGlynn

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Wednesday 26 December 2012 00:00

HAVING climbed into the top six as a result of their home win over Dundee United on Sunday, Hearts could go as high as fourth this afternoon if they win at Kilmarnock and other results go in their favour.

After a lengthy spell in the doldrums, that would be further confirmation of how much they have improved in recent weeks, though Tynecastle manager John McGlynn believes that they have only really got better in the most crucial part of the game – scoring goals.

After coming under pressure for fielding a lone striker throughout a run of indifferent results, McGlynn had the courage to admit a change might be required, and in recent games has played two men up front, but he believes that while his team’s goalscoring record has improved, with two in each of their last three league matches, other aspects of their performances were if anything better earlier in the season.

“You’re effective if you score goals, aren’t you?” he said. “We were playing very good football, excellent football, probably 
better passing football than we’re playing right now.

“We were creating as many chances, but probably not taking them. So effectiveness for me in playing a football match is to score goals and win, so we are more effective, yes. And we still have a reasonably good goals-against column.”

In their only previous outing against Kilmarnock this season, Hearts were less than effective, going down 3-1. Cillian Sheridan scored a hat-trick, while Marius Zaliukas’s reply came just a couple of minutes from time.

“We’re maybe due them one, because they beat us here 3-1, and it was a sore day for us,” McGlynn continued. “They’ve gone along very nicely. Kenny [Shiels, the Kilmarnock manager] has done really well in the signings he’s made and bringing in players. We would anticipate a difficult game, but if we defend very well I think we’ll be able to cause Kilmarnock problems as well.

“[Sheridan] is a top striker. It was a good bit of business for Kenny to get him.

“I thought Darren Barr did an excellent job on Rudi Skacel [against Dundee United on Sunday]. Maybe he’ll do a similar job on Sheridan, but Paul 
Heffernan is a decent striker as well, so they’ve got two good strikers there. I think Kenny’s got a really good squad, so we’ll have to make sure that we’re at our best.”

Two points behind Hearts with a game in hand, ninth-placed Kilmarnock will go above today’s opponents if they win. Hearts midfielder Dylan McGowan agreed with his manager about the threat posed by Sheridan, but suggested that he and his team-mates could have enough firepower to get the better of the home side. “They’ve been good this season,” said the Australian midfielder, who has only recently joined his older brother Ryan in the first team. “They’ve got a great striker in Cillian Sheridan, so they’re obviously a threat, but on paper we’re a match for anyone. If we turn up and play in the right frame of mind I’m sure we can get the three points.”

The 21-year-old McGowan has been playing with a torn stomach muscle and is confident he will not have to rest for the injury to heal naturally. In any case, having only just claimed a place in the team, he has no intention of returning to the sidelines any time soon.

“I was delighted to get a start [against Dundee United] and it was a huge three points because we jumped a couple of places,” he said. “It’s an important time of year with four games in quick succession, which is a huge chance for us to get up the table where we should be.

“I’ve been here a long time. I’ve been on loan here and back home, so that broke it up a little bit, but this is starting to feel like home. Hearts as a club is now home for us and that’s the way we want it.”

It may not be home for Ryan McGowan much longer, however, as the versatile 23-year-old is the most likely player to leave Tynecastle when the transfer window opens next week. “Obviously I hope he stays, but it’s up to him,” Dylan added. “He’s in a completely different situation to me. I’ve just broken into the team: he’s been there a long while. So it’s up to him to decide what he does.”

For the moment, though, the brothers are together in Edinburgh, and this week they have been joined by several more family members, including their mother. Christmas in Scotland is a little different to the festive season the brothers knew while growing up in Adelaide, but they grew accustomed to the 
differences some time ago.

“The weather’s not great, but we didn’t come here for the weather, ” Dylan said. “We came here for the football.

“Christmas back home is normally outdoors due to the weather. We bring the table outdoors and have our Christmas there, which is a lot better than here where everyone’s crammed into their living rooms.”

Taken from the Scotsman