Friendly: Queen of the South 0 Hearts 0

Gary Ralston

Tynecastle boss hits out over 'absurd' low bids for defender Jason Holt
21 Jul 2013 10:45

QUEENS dominated the match but it was transfer talk surrounding the visitors off the pitch that dominated discussion afterwards.

HEARTS boss Gary Locke last night told Nottingham Forest to stop insulting his club with absurdly low bids for Jason Holt.

Forest had their third bid for the Scotland Under-21 midfielder rejected as crisis-hit Jambos scoffed at their latest valuation of £150,000.

Locke hit out after this stalemate on Queens’ 5G pitch which saw the Tynecastle outfit welcome back Calum Paterson from a foot injury for the first time in six months.

The gaffer said: “We’re lucky we don’t have to accept ridiculous offers for players because of the way the fans have rallied round the club.

“The bid we received from Forest is nowhere near our valuation of Jason and we won’t allow one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football to leave on the cheap. The administrators have said players don’t have to leave the club and I’m delighted with that as our squad is paper thin.

“Of course, the club would have to look at any sensible bids that come in. But until that happens Jason is a Hearts player and a key part of my plans for the new season.”

Queens were more punchy, pacy and slicker than their top-flight opponents and how Hearts’ goal survived intact in the first half was something of a mystery.

Back-up keeper Mark Ridgers played his part with a stunning fingertip stop to deny Chris Higgins when the big Doonhamers defender got a free header five minutes from the break.

In the very next move Higgins saw a header crack off the face of the bar as Hearts struggled in the hot sun.

Some of Queens’ football was a joy with Paul Burns and Michael Paton flashing volleys over the top before Ridgers scrambled to push a 25-yard Danny Carmichael trundler wide.

Ridgers beat away another effort from Carmichael midway through the half but knew little about a brilliant overhead kick from Kevin Holt that dropped inches over.

Hearts created only once chance of note when Jamie Walker fired across trialist keeper Calum Antell only to see the ball fly wide.

The home side continued to dominate after the interval but poor finishing cost them dear and Ridgers again proved his worth to deny Orsi late on.

Queens boss Jim McIntyre said: “We played really well and the new surface is great.

“We trained on it for the first time on Thursday and although it will take a couple of weeks to settle the ball ran very well.”

Taken from the Daily Record