Jordan returns to show how it's done

14 May 1991

Hearts 2, Everton 0

GARY Mackay was indebted to his manager Joe Jordan for enlivening his testimonial match against Everton at Tynecastle last night.

After a poor first half,

39-year-old Jordan came on at half-time to replace Scott Crabbe and immediately the game picked up.

Displaying all the enthusiasm of old, Jordan proved the match winner by scoring both goals.

A disappointing crowd of only 5575 turned out to pay tribute to Mackay's eleven years of good service at Tynecastle, but with the benefit of hindsight such a fixture might have been better scheduled at the start of a season.

Mackay was denied a goal on his big night due to the brilliance of Everton keeper Neville Southall.

In 57 minutes, referee Jim Duncan awarded Hearts a soft penalty when Colquhoun was bundled off the ball by Keown, and there was never any doubt about who was going to take the kick.

Mackay struck the penalty true enough to Southall's right but the Welsh internationalist dived across goal to save.

Just four minutes earlier, he had been beaten for the first time by a typical Jordan goal.

Derek Ferguson, who had a fine match, freed Robertson on the left and the Scotland striker looked to have done everything right as he chipped the ball over Southall's head from the edge of the box.

But it came back off the crossbar and with Southall scurrying back, Jordan outjumped him to head the ball into the net.

The Hearts manager should have had his name on the scoresheet earlier.

He missed a simple header after a cross from Wright after 49 minutes, and then missed in front of goal after a Ferguson through pass.

There was no questioning Jordan's delight, however, when he grabbed his first goal and he rounded off a decent night's work when he turned in a cross from McCreery with just two minutes remaining.

Both sides showed too much respect for each other in a first half with few clear-cut chances, although Robertson was unlucky to see a shot cleared off the line by Milligan after 25 minutes.

Four minutes later Keown hit the Hearts crossbar with a close-range shot after Sharp had headed on a Sheedy corner.

Southall then showed all his agility to dive and keep out a low shot from Robertson.

And when Crabbe put the ball back across goal Robertson.



HEARTS -- Walker, McLaren, Mackay, Levein, Wright, McPherson, Colquhoun, McKinlay, Robertson, Ferguson, Crabbe.

Substitutes -- Kidd, Smith, Jordan, McCreery, Sandison.

EVERTON -- Southall, McDonald, Atteveld, Keown, Youds, Milligan, Nevin, McCall, Sharp, Sheedy, Beagrie.

Substitutes -- Barlow, Unsworth, Gouldstone.

Referee -- J Duncan (Gorebridge).

Taken from the Herald