Levein worry as Hearts escape with Firhill point

IAN PAUL

11 Nov 1992

Partick Thistle 1, Hearts 1.

HEARTS had to work very hard to escape from Firhill with a point, but if their manager, Joe Jordan, had that much to be pleased about, the Scottish coach, Andy Roxburgh, had cause for anxiety as he watched the Tynecastle defender, Craig Levein, being taken off before half-time.

Levein, who suffered a thigh strain, was one of Roxburgh's bankers for the team to meet Italy in the World Cup qualifying tie at Ibrox next week.

With Richard Gough already out, it would be a severe blow for the Scotland coach if Levein has to withdraw.

Said Jordan: "Levein is struggling.

I'll let Andy Roxburgh know the situation tomorrow after the medical people have had a look at him, but he looks doubtful to me."

Hearts had looked much more comfortable while he was on the field, and had gone in front through Alan McLaren just before Levein had to depart.

But after the interval, the Edinburgh team had a tough time against a revitalised Thistle who equalised quickly through Gerry Britton, and had a few good opportunities to go in front.

So, too, did Hearts -- none more so than substitute Ian Ferguson, who missed a sitter near the end.

Thistle had hoped to give Bruce Murray, their American internationalist, his first taste of the premier division, but a hitch in his clearance papers from the US prevented this.

Said Thistle manager John Lambie: "It's ludicrous.

He played in our reserves and scored against Motherwell.

I don't know what the problem is."

It was easy enough to see what the problem for goalkeepers was as the greasy ball caused both Andy Murdoch and Henry Smith to make errors very early on.

Murdoch failed to hold a rather tame Mauchlen shot and was fortunate that there were no other Hearts men around to take advantage before he grabbed the ball again.

Similarly, Smith allowed a corner from Cameron to slide through his hands and he had to wheel and grasp it again, but it was questionable whether he had rescued the ball before it crossed the line.

The referee was close up, however, and he allowed play to continue.

Farningham had to go off for a couple of minutes to have a head injury treated, but Thistle were in no great danger during this period, anyway.

And to be fair, neither were Hearts.

One fine pass by Law did split the Tynecastle defence, but McVicar had run just offside.

A Derek Ferguson shot which took a severe deflection very nearly let Robertson in, but Murdoch was quickly out to kick clear.

Still, for a match which meant a lot to each team, there was a surprising lack of urgency at times.

Ferguson gave Mauchlen a little chance with a long cross from the left but the midfielder hit the ball a long way over the bar.

And then Ferguson, who was by far the most effective Hearts player, tried a long range effort of his own but it proved no problem for Murdoch.

McVicar was booked for talking out of turn after an offside decision given against Thistle.

But by now Hearts were beginning to get their rhythm.

Baird had a fair header towards goal from a Ferguson free kick but he was slightly off target.

However, from almost exactly the same spot a couple of minutes later -- the thirty-fifth -- Ferguson sent over another free kick which McLaren bent to head over the line off Murdoch's head to put Hearts in front.

Shortly after that, Hearts had to take off Levein and replace him with Glyn Snodin.

Thistle, too, sent on a replacement -- Mark McWalter, who took over from Farningham who had clearly not fully recovered from that early knock.

Thistle did not take long to get back on level terms, three minutes of the second half to be precise.

And it was McVicar who set up the chance with a penetrating run down the left and a superb cross which Britton headed accurately into the net.

And another exciting raid by Thistle had Hearts in bother before Shaw was caught offside.

The Edinburgh side were going through a tough time and it needed a marvellous one-handed save by Smith to prevent Jamieson from putting his team ahead.

Then it was Shaw's turn to test Smith with a firm shot which the keeper did well to hold.

In 67 minutes, Hearts put on Ian Ferguson for Preston and 10 minutes from time, the substitute, after having bewildered two defenders, managed to get himself in a tangle and messed up the best chance of the night.

A few minutes later, he was booked for a foul on McLaughlin.

PARTICK THISTLE -- Murdoch, Clark, McVicar, Farningham, Jamieson, McLaughlin, Shaw, Law, Britton, Irons, Cameron.

Substitutes -- McGlashan, McWalter.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, Mauchlen, Van de Ven, Robertson, D Ferguson, Baird, Millar, Preston.

Substitutes -- I Ferguson, Snodin.

Referee -- E Martindale (Newlands).

Taken from the Herald