Picking up points when not playing well is mark of potential champions

ian paul

23 Dec 1991

HE did not hear his peer's words, but Joe Jordan would have been quietly pleased, as is his fashion, at St Mirren manager David Hay's view of the latest triumph in Hearts' thrilling attempt at winning the premier-division championship.

As well as considering his own team unlucky to go down 1-0, Hay made the point that Hearts' victory was typical of the kind teams who win championships need.

"Maybe they were a bit fortunate, but getting full points in this kind of game can be the turning point when you are chasing titles," said the man who was manager of the Celtic team which snatched the premier championship from Hearts on goal difference in 1986.

When he had vacated the interviewee's seat in came Jordan to say something similar.

His team, he said, had not played well, but their determination had earned them two points.

"It takes other qualities besides skill to win a championship and I was pleased with our willingness to battle through."

Jordan admits to a pleasant surprise at the state of the side as it is about to enter 1992.

"Not many of you would have expected us to be here at this stage, but we still have to prove ourselves.

Winning a league title needs endurance as well as ability."

He cited the Old Firm, Aberdeen, and Dundee United as teams who have shown that they have learned the next bit, how to stay the course.

Hearts are entering the unknown, but even the reticent Jordan admitted this much: "We have made progress a lot sooner than I had expected."

He accepted that the display at Love Street was not vintage stuff, but argued that in their three previous games Hearts had played good football.

"It is difficult in this league to play well every week."

He can see the confidence increasing in his players as their run continues.

"It must be reassuring for them to look at their away record, for instance, 10 wins outside Tynecastle."

There can be no dispute about the excellence of that form and, if the latest success was less than sparkling, Hearts are not the first team to discover that winning is not always about superiority.

Saints have spent much of their history demonstrating this disturbing truism about football.

It would not be strictly accurate to describe them as superior this time, but nor were they inferior.

They were entitled to at least a share of the points, but their luck near goal continues to be appalling.

Of course, they could do with some sharper finishing in that area, but sometimes the gods decree that the ball ain't going in, however well it is hit, placed, hammered or coaxed.

Ask young Kevin McGowne, the Saints full back who scored his first goal for the club in their heroic victory over Rangers at Ibrox a few weeks ago.

On that occasion Kevin scored the only goal with a blistering shot from around 30 yards.

Against Hearts he seemed to have taken advantage of St Mirren's best constructed opening of the day when Aitken, Charnley and Elliot combined cleverly on the left to lay the ball across goal into his path.

Kevin hit it accurately and low and it seemed the game was back on level terms.

However, the large figure of Henry Smith had not been removed from the scene and he dived low to grasp the ball and effectively secure the points for his team.

John Millar had a bit to do with it, too, having scored the Tynecastle goal midway through the second half.

The young midfield man had no doubts as to his right to being on the score-sheet, although some felt that the original header by substitute Ian Ferguson had crossed the line after hitting the underside of the bar.

Referee Willie Young appeared to agree with Millar, however, as he did not signal a goal until Millar's header knocked the rebound over the line.

Either way, it was the goal Hearts badly needed, especially as they had scorned the few other chances they made.

Dave McPherson, who could have legitimate claims to being the top man of the day, made a mess of a great chance in the first half, and John Robertson also sent the ball wide when he would have been expected to score.

St Mirren had fine service out of Roy Aitken, Jim Beattie and Julian Broddle, while Graeme Hogg did a fine job as deputy for Hearts' Craig Levein.

Referee Young did some good things but also was guilty of a wee bit zealous attention to duty.

Six bookings in a match which was never ugly seems a bit excessive.

One of them came even after it was all over.

Campbell Money, normally the most restrained of chaps, got quite worked up about remarks apparently made to him by Hearts' Tosh McKinlay.

He had to be held back by others as the players prepared to go up the tunnel after the final whistle and Young had no option but to call the Paisley keeper back and show him the yellow card.

Taken from the Herald