Elements no excuse for Tynecastle result

ray hepburn

16 Jan 1989

Hearts 0, Motherwell 0

HEARTS striker John Colquhoun posed the very valid question yesterday whether excessive wind may not be one of the considerations taken on board when match conditions require a postponement decision.

The front man was not making the elements an excuse for a disappointing result either, but was more concerned that spectators -- there were 13,283 on Saturday -- were being short-changed.

He explained: "I realised that there would be many practical difficulties, but perhaps it should be looked into.

I cannot recall seeing a good game in a gale.

"There are bound to be times when safety is a factor as well, but the main consideration must be supporters.

They cannot be getting value for money in weather like that."

Underfoot, there were difficulties as well so any criticism of players must be tempered with the thought that the more skilful on both sides were considerably disadvantaged.

Hearts would be the bigger sufferers in that case, but it did not fully explain the lack of clear-cut opportunities they manufactured during 90 minutes of frustration.

Indeed, it was Tommy McLean's team who came closest to claiming a victory, when Steve Kirk's 44th minute shot cannoned off a post, after Motherwell had enjoyed a tiny percentage of the ball.

The draw eased them eight points clear of bottom place and players like Fraser Wishart, Colin O'Neill, Steve Kirk, and David McCabe deserve to learn from yet another spell in the premier division next season.

For Hearts it was a day when their travel plans took a jolt.

Qualification prospects through the league for Europe next season seem remote, and chairman Wallace Mercer yesterday revealed that an invitation to a prestigious, lucrative tournament in Peking in June, would be declined, in deference to a summer of hard graft at home.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, McPherson, Whittaker, Berry, Galloway, Mackay, Colquhoun, Black, Ferguson.

Substitutes -- Foster, Bannon.

MOTHERWELL -- Maxwell, Wishart, Boyd, Paterson, McAdam, McCart, Russell, O'Neill, McCabe, Kirk, Kinnaird.

Substitutes -- Shanks, McBride.

Referee -- J McCluskey (Stewarton).