Hearts hint at revival in time for European push

AFTER a period of incessant inner turmoil which threatened to burn the spirit of the club to ash, the evidence supplied by the flames of a resilient 3-2 win over Hibernian in a compelling Edinburgh derby suggested it isn't too late for Hearts to salvage more than just a measure of self-respect from the season.

What was most significant - and played a key part in helping the Hearts players rally round the cause on Tuesday - was Valdas Ivanauskas' ability to pick most of his best players for a big match. Although you could argue about the selections made at full-back and wonder if it made any sense to drop Robbie Neilson and Takis Fyssas after plundering three points from Tannadice, the truth was something like Hearts' strongest team was entrusted with the task of collecting three points on Boxing Day.
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Bearing in mind the bewildering nature of recent events, this return to common sense was a huge leap forward. If it's now clear the sheer scale of the squad and the coaching philosophy in place at Tynecastle favours an ongoing rotation policy, most followers of the club will be able to endure the constant tinkering should the top men all be present and correct in the games that matter most.

By making Craig Gordon the captain, Vladimir Romanov posted a reminder he hadn't entirely forgotten the importance of Hearts' Scottish heritage. The majority shareholder may also want to take note that five Scots played for most of the match against Hibs - a fact not unconnected with the return of the dogged self-belief which played such an important part in Hearts' success under George Burley's management. To their credit, the Lithuanians also raised their games against Hibs as both Edgaras Jankauskas and Saulius Mikoliunas got their names on the scoresheet.

Although the possibility of splitting the Old Firm for a second successive season is an outside bet given the impressive consistency of Rangers' recent revival, there's no reason why Hearts shouldn't set their cap in the second-half of the season at claiming third spot and offering a stout defence of the Scottish Cup. Of course, it goes without saying these footballing ambitions are dependent on a line being drawn in the sand as the New Year approaches. No more petty internal squabbles, no more humiliating of seasoned professionals and no more interference in team matters than the head coach can bear without retreating to a health farm.

Since he came back from sick leave, Ivanauskas' positive influence on a camp divided by negativity has been impressive. Placed in the invidious position of mollifying Romanov while attempting to stabilise the dressing-room, Ivanauskas has watched Hearts tot up three wins, two draws and a defeat in the last six games. It's not championship form, but at least it's steadier than the shambles which characterised Eduard Malofeev's time in charge of the first team.

While it could be argued the last thing Hearts need when the transfer window opens in January is another batch of players, men of the calibre of Rudi Skacel, Andy Webster and Steven Pressley have not yet been replaced by footballers of the same calibre. If Hearts do enter the market next month, they should seek out quality rather than quantity.

The positive aspects of Hibs' performance at Tynecastle were also encouraging enough to enable John Collins to envisage a bright future for the team.

When, in the second half, Scott Brown imposed himself on the play in midfield and full-back Steven Whittaker delivered a swashbuckling display down the right flank, Hibs played with enough verve to merit a share of the spoils. On the other hand, it shouldn't be forgotten how the strength and dynamism of Hearts performance in the first-half unnerved a Hibs' defence overly reliant on Rob Jones' leadership.

The red card shown to Dean Shiels for lifting his hands as he crashed into Craig Gordon after scoring from the penalty spot was a talking point which left both the player and the Hibs' manager feeling aggrieved. Yet, even if it wasn't pre-meditated, the action was undoubtedly reckless and few at Tynecastle who saw the incident in 'real time' didn't think referee Mike McCurry made the correct decision.

Hibs are to appeal, but it remains to be seen if Shiels' ill-advised lunge will win much sympathy from the SFA.

Whether or not the dismissal cost Hibs all three points is also debatable since the game's defining moment was arguably goalkeeper Zibi Malkowski's blunder at Paul Hartley's free-kick which gifted Edgaras Jankauskas his first goal of the season.

Collins deemed the loss of such a soft goal "pathetic" and one can only guess the manager now regards the signing of a reliable goalkeeper as his top priority in the January sales. In the absence of Steven Fletcher, Ivan Sproule, Kevin Thomson and Merouane Zemmama, it must also be noted how threadbare the Hibs' bench looked at Tynecastle. If he's going to guide Hibs into Europe next season, Collins will also need to recruit a couple of experienced outfield players.
RELIEF OVER GONCLAVES

HEARTS last night breathed a sigh of relief after learning defender Jose Goncalves has not suffered more injury problems.

The 21-year-old Portuguese player hobbled out of the 3-2 win over Hibs on Boxing Day after just eight minutes to be replaced by Lee Wallace, but is understood only to have sustained a knock to an ankle that should settle down by the weekend.

Taken from the Scotsman