WITH a rousing and passionate season-opening performance, Hearts overcame Motherwell in an enthralling encounter which emphasised the new-found will that Csaba Laszlo has instilled at Tynecastle. The hosts simply overpowered their stubborn visitors,
who equalised twice, to open their SPL campaign with the victory demanded by their manager.
Goals from Michael Stewart, Audrius Ksanavicius and Saulius Mikoliunas were sufficient on the day Mark McGhee confronted Hearts for the first time since spurning the advances of Vladimir Romanov for the manager's job. David Clarkson was the visitors' principle threat, scoring both goals, but the industry and desire displayed by Hearts stood out all afternoon in a game played at a ridiculously frantic pace.
McGhee was the subject of a banner in the away end which read 'They tried to make McGhee a Jambo, he said no, no, no'. By full-time, the former Scotland striker might just have been questioning his decision back to reject Hearts back in May. With that issue now put to bed, Laszlo's side have begun the campaign with intent. They looked fitter, faster and significantly more determined than last season against a Motherwell team which isn't frightened to attack and contains plenty of midfield craft.
George Burley took a seat in the Tynecastle directors' box to assess international candidates prior to Scotland's upcoming friendly with Northern Ireland, Hearts captain Christophe Berra and Motherwell's Clarkson the main protagonists. Berra found himself surrounded by two central defenders for this match in Marius Zaliukas and Christos Karipidis, the latter deployed just ahead of the back four in an unorthodox holding midfield role. His protection allowed midfield counterparts freedom to roam forward and with that Hearts began purposefully, taking the game to their guests from Lanarkshire.
Ksanavicius found himself eyeballing Graeme Smith on nine minutes but shot straight at the Motherwell goalkeeper before realising he had been penalised for apparently tugging Stephen Craigan. In truth, it appeared more likely that the defender had lost his footing under pressure as forwards swarmed around him. Ksanavicius was cautioned for diving by referee Iain Brines moments later after falling deliberately over Craigan's outstretched leg in the penalty area. Whilst that decision appeared correct, Brines was guilty of failing to maintain standards when Clarkson fell just as theatrically under a challenge from Lee Wallace and escaped without punishment.
The game proceeded at a frenetic rate, Motherwell's adventurous 4-3-3 formation ensuring they carried considerable attacking menace.
Clarkson, Chris Porter and Steven McGarry worked the home defence tirelessly but Hearts' new-season hunger couldn't be supressed and on 25 minutes Michael Stewart sprinted beyond the Motherwell rearguard to finish a beautifully constructed move. The increasingly influential Ksanavicius threaded the ball to Andy Driver, whose pass was perfectly cushioned for Stewart to slot calmly past Smith.
"Are you watching Mark McGhee?" was the response from home supporters, however Clarkson's equaliser served to temporarily dampen home enthusiasm. The right side of Hearts' defence remained static at a Motherwell throw and Stephen Hughes evaded Marius Zaliukas to cross for Clarskon's conversion inside the six-yard box.
The defensive lethargy would have infuriated Laszlo, a manager who demands tactical discipline at all times, but Ksanavicius' bravery in scoring his side's second must have tempered the Hungarian's frustration. Mark Reynolds allowed a high ball to spin uncontrollably off his head on 40 minutes, and the Lithuanian was sufficiently alert to prod it past Smith, taking a painful boot in the stomach whilst doing so.
Restoring their advantage was just reward for Hearts' enthralling first-half display. Motherwell could consider themselves fortunate not to be further behind given that a deflected Driver shot on 31 minutes had looped up and on to Smith's crossbar. The potential danger was resting on laurels after the interval, however the pace and passion continued unabated.
Driver ought to have squared for the unmarked Jamie Mole on 50 minutes but wasted the opportunity with only two opposition defenders in attendance. Motherwell teetered on the brink of conceding a third for a short period as they endeavoured to regain a foothold in the match.
Such was Hearts' energy and work rate that tiredness was certain to become a factor during the latter stages, something McGhee would have been banking on.
That couldn't be the excuse when the second equaliser arrived, however. Juho Makela, on as a substitute with fresh legs, showed woeful control when taking a ball from defence and conceded possession. Clarkson collected, spun and drove a deflected drive beyond Steve Banks. Makela beat the ground in frustration. But whereas last season's Hearts would have capitulated, the response this time was a raking 20-yard strike from Saulius Mikoliunas less than 60 seconds later. Laszlo jumped virtually on to the field to give an impromptu jig of celebration at securing a 3-2 lead.
Porter's dive went unpunished as Motherwell tried in vain to claw a point from the afternoon, and Berra's timely block prevented Clarkson's effort from troubling Banks. Nonetheless, the closing seconds passed rather tamely. Hearts simply refused to give up these three precious points.
Hearts (4-4-1-1): Banks; Thomson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Kingston, Karipidis, Stewart, Driver; Ksanavicius, Mole. Subs: MacDonald, Mikoliunas 78 (for Kingston), Nade, Makela 73 (for Ksanavicius), Cesnauskis 69 (for Driver), Jonsson, Rapnik.
Motherwell: (4-3-3): G Smith; Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell; Lasley, Malcolm, Hughes; Clarkson, Porter, McGarry. Subs: Neilson, D Smith 75 (for McGarry), Murphy, Fitzpatrick 54 (for Malcolm), O'Brien 79 (for Lasley), Connolly, Slane.
Referee: Iain Brines.
Attendance: 14,219.
The full article contains 942 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
