SPFL,
Saturday 11 January 2014 – Tynecastle
Hearts plea to the SPFL to
lift the signing embargo imposed on them will be heard by the Hampden suits
early next week. Desperate times call for desperate measures and if anyone was
in any doubt about how desperate Hearts are, they need only have been at
Tynecastle Stadium on Saturday.
With sources depleted, Gary
Locke was again struggling to field a team with Callum Tapping the latest
injury problem added to a list that already contained Danny Wilson, Jason Holt
and Mark Ridgers. Tapping had been struggling with a bug all week but such is
the casualty list at Tynecastle, the former Tottenham Hotspur player was named
as a substitute. Defender Kevin McHattie started the game not fully fit and it
was a gamble that didn’t pay off as the youngster was forced to leave the field
after an hour. Locke also opted for Jamie Walker to sit alongside Tapping on
the bench meaning a rare start for Dale Carrick.
Watching Hearts this season,
particularly at Tynecastle, has been akin to watching the film Groundhog Day –
it’s the same recurring nightmare, except on a fortnightly basis rather than a
daily one. Certainly the beleaguered supporters must have been thinking ‘here
we go again’ after just two minutes when Jordan McGhee sliced his attempted
clearance and the ball seemed to spinning towards the Hearts net for the
opening goal. However, as he has been so often this season, keeper Jamie
MacDonald pushed the ball away and the majority of the near 13,000 crowd -
another mightily impressive attendance given what’s going on in Gorgie this
season – heaved a sigh of relief.
While there was plenty of
effort on show, chances were few and far between for either team. Motherwell’s
Ainsworth had a couple of chances, one of which produced another fine save from
Jamie Mac. However, the keeper was unable to prevent the visitors taking the
lead five minutes before half time. Former Hearts striker John Sutton moved on
to a through pass and fired home from a tight angle - albeit there was a
deflection from Hearts Dylan McGowan - to give The Steelmen the lead. As the
Hearts players trooped off the field at half time a goal down, it was difficult
to see where the equalising goal would come from.
There may have been a few
words of ‘advice’ from Gary Locke at the break because Hearts looked a much
more determined side in the second half. Ryan Stevenson’s cross-come-shot
smacked off the crossbar before the industrious David Smith’s 30 yard effort
tested Motherwell keeper Neilsen. This seemed to inspire the home team who
began to dominate the game.
Stevenson had another effort
from 25 yards which Neilsen pushed over the bar before substitute Jamie Walker
fired in a shot which was just over. Hearts continued to push forward and the
home crowd were encouraged by their team at least looking threatening. However,
the visitors were always dangerous on the counter-attack and Anier’s effort on
goal was well saved by MacDonald who then denied Sutton the chance of a second
goal a few minutes later.
Hearts best chance came late
in the game when Stevenson’s cross landed at the feet of Jamie Hamill but the
former Kilmarnock player couldn’t control the ball and his effort on goal was
blocked by the Motherwell defence.
When Hearts were denied a
late penalty claim when the ball appeared to strike the arm of a Motherwell
defender, the home support realised it was to be another day with no goals and
no points.
Hearts are now 20 points
adrift at the foot of the league. Their appeal to the SPFL for clemency will be
heard on Monday. It’s unlikely to succeed. In any case, even if Hearts signed
Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the deficit is too great now
to save this great club from demotion.
Hearts: MacDonald; McGhee, McKay,
McGowan, McHattie, Paterson, Hamill, Robinson, Smith, Carrick, Stevenson.
Motherwell:
Nielsen,
Hammell, Ramsden, Hutchinson, McManus, McFadden, Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley,
Carswell, Ainsworth.
Referee: Willie Collum
Att: 12,888
Top man: Jamie MacDonald – again.
No comments:
Post a Comment