Hearts 0 Motherwell 2

RICHARD WINTON

27 Sep 2010

What Jim Jefferies didn’t say in the wake of this defeat was more enlightening than the comments he did make.

Amid complaints about marking and injuries there was a clear implication in the Hearts manager’s carefully chosen words; this is what happens when you interfere.

The message was meant for Vladmir Romanov. Whether the club’s owner heeds or even hears the warning remains to be seen but Jefferies felt that this performance exhibited the concerns he feels about his Tynecastle squad.

Chief among his concerns are his options in defence. On Saturday, the absence of Lee Wallace and Marius Zaliukas led to the deployment of two midfielders, Adrian Mrowiec and Eggert Jonsson in the back four, with the discomfort of the latter, especially, exposed. Granted, the Icelander was in direct conflict with the game’s stand-out performer in Chris Humphrey, but the regularity with which he was beaten on his outside was unacceptable even for someone playing in a foreign position.

It need not have been thus, though. Jefferies attempted to bring Tony Capaldi, the former Cardiff City left-back, to the club in August but was rebuffed by Romanov, who instead facilitated the return of Rudi Skacel – a player the manager apparently neither wanted or needed. Given the tone of his comments on Saturday evening, the issue still rankles.

We’re struggling and I tried to sort it out a couple of weeks ago by bringing in a left-back. I tried to solve the problem a couple of weeks ago with you know who but we couldn’t so we’ll have to persevere with what we’ve got.

Jim Jefferies, Hearts manager

“We’re struggling and I tried to sort it out a couple of weeks ago by bringing in a left-back,” Jefferies said. “I tried to solve the problem a couple of weeks ago with you know who but we couldn’t so we’ll have to persevere with what we’ve got. We’ll have more talks on the Zaliukas situation this week.”

It should, of course, be noted that the Hearts manager also opted to leave Darren Barr out of his 18 after a run of poor performances but the former Falkirk defender is perhaps not the only player he should be concerned about.

Kevin Kyle was listless in attack, Ruben Palazuelos and Ryan Stevenson anaemic in midfield, Suso Santana too busy girning to turn his early threat into something more tangible and Skacel hopelessly off the pace. Jefferies noted a collective lack of confidence after the cup defeat at Falkirk but despite their problems Hearts are still not far away from franking their status as favourites to finish third and will be stronger once their injured players return.

That is what makes it all the more important that their weekend vanquishers hoard points while their form and fitness remains. Motherwell were excellent on Saturday, and brought to mind one of the many continental teams who have arrived on these shores, defended calmly and sprung forward with menace.

With Stephen Craigan and Mark Reynolds a redoubtable central defensive pair behind the hard-grafting midfield duo of Steve Jennings and Keith Lasley, the likes of Humphrey, Nick Blackman and the increasingly impressive Jamie Murphy were able to use their pace and movement to pose all kinds of problems amid an astonishingly mature display from such a callow collective.

“We’ve a lot of young boys but the experience of guys like Stephen and Mark, even though he’s not that old, can guide us through situations,” insisted Blackman.

Indeed, Craig Brown made mention afterwards of the nine under-21 players in his squad of 18 – four of whom started – but the Motherwell manager and assistant Archie Knox must take their share of the plaudits for their ambitious gameplan which recorded a third successive away win without conceding.

Should they improve their home form after taking just one point from a possible nine so far this term, providing a challenge to such as Hearts will be within their grasp. A lack of squad depth – having such a young pool is not a matter of choice – could prove costly as the season progresses but Blackman is refusing to put a ceiling on his ambition.

“In training every day I see that they are a great bunch of lads with a lot of ability so we needn’t be scared of anyone,” insisted the on loan Blackburn Rovers striker. “We’ve come here and got a good result against a tough team so if we carry on doing that the sky is the limit.”

Taken from the Herald