Dniepr the Defeated

1990 – a new year, a new decade and a new era, not only for this writer but for Heart of Midlothian Football Club. After several years in Aberdeen, I had moved to Edinburgh, intent that my young family would enjoy a better way of life and the cultural experience that was living in the capital city. While I was moving in, the man who had rescued Hearts from oblivion, the man who took Hearts to minutes of the league championship, the man who took Hearts to the latter stages of European competition – Alex MacDonald – was moving out. The writing was on the wall for wee Doddy in March 1990 when a highly fancied Hearts team lost 4-1 at Aberdeen in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. It was another season that ended in bitter disappointment for Hearts supporters who began to question just how many gut wrenching events they could stomach.

When Hearts began season 1990/91 with defeat at Dunfermline and then were again comprehensively beaten by Aberdeen in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie the knives were out - particularly when, during that cup-tie, MacDonald favoured bringing on Walter Kidd as a substitute instead of £750,000 signing Derek Ferguson at a time when Hearts were two goals down. A 3-1 defeat by Rangers at Tynecastle in the league three days later sealed Macdonald’s fate.

Former Scotland international Joe Jordan was the surprise choice as MacDonald’s replacement. One of the best strikers ever to play for Scotland, Jordan had been manager at Bristol City where his impressive style of management had not gone unnoticed by bigger clubs. Indeed, Jordan had turned down the opportunity to manage Aston Villa just months earlier so his appointment at Tynecastle was seen as a real coup. Although Jordan had no previous link with Hearts – unusually for a Gorgie boss - it was clear that chairman Wallace Mercer had looked at Ibrox where Graeme Souness had transformed Rangers and thought Jordan could emulate his international team mate. The difference was that Souness was given a blank chequebook – Jordan would have very little money as Hearts finances worsened. On paper, Hearts looked a strong team. With the much heralded defensive pairing of Craig Levein and Dave McPherson at last playing alongside each other for a decent run of games, the influential Derek Ferguson in midfield and the goal scoring prowess of John Robertson up front, Hearts looked good enough to give any team a run for their money. However, the full-backs positions were a worry with neither George Wright nor Jimmy Sandison having the consistency to make those positions their own.

In midfield it seemed too much was expected of Ferguson who found it difficult to gel with Gary Mackay and Davie Kirkwood while, up front, the goals seemed to dry up for John Robertson who went three months without scoring a league goal. Despite their troubles, Hearts were still good enough to beat Hibernian as a 3-0 win at Easter Road in September 1990 proved.

Two years after their memorable run which took them to the quarter-finals, Hearts were also looking forward to another run in the U.E.F.A. Cup. Now living in the capital city, I discussed with my mate Gordon the prospect of travelling to the continent to see the mighty JTs and we awaited the first round draw with relish, particularly when some of the clubs in the first round draw were Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, Bordeaux and Anderlecht. Our hearts sank however, when we saw Hearts being paired with…..Dniepr Dnepropetrovsk. It was the era of glasnost and the Soviet Union was about to come to an end but I still didn’t fancy a trip to a club who played just forty miles from the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. ‘We’ll save our cash for the second round’ we quipped but, given Hearts struggling league form, I didn’t fancy our chances against the Russians. But on September 19 in the first leg ‘behind the iron curtain’ Hearts produced a marvellous display and secured a 1-1 draw with, inevitably, John Robertson scoring the crucial away goal. Nearly 19,000 Jambos packed Tynecastle a fortnight later to see Hearts try and finish the job. After another famous European night, they weren’t to be disappointed!

Hearts: Smith; McLaren; McKinlay; Levein; Kirkwood; McPherson; Colquhoun; Wright; Robertson; Iain Ferguson and Bannon. Subs: Derek Ferguson; Mackay.

The return of Dave McPherson to the side – Big Slim had missed the first leg through suspension – was welcome while European veteran Eammon Bannon was encouraged to make as much forward runs as possible and to deliver telling passes to John Robertson and Iain Ferguson. There was a feeling that Fergie and Robbo were too similar in style to play effectively together but the pair of them fairly rumbled the Ukrainians on a memorable October evening. The hero of the night, not for the first time, was John Robertson.

The game kick off with the big crowd urging Hearts to glory and within second of the start, a brilliant piece of skill by Robertson seemed to light the blue touch paper. He dummied a through ball from Tosh McKinlay which let Iain Ferguson through the former Dundee United striker lashed the ball beyond keeper Gorodov to seemingly give Hearts a dream start. But the linesman on the stand side dampened Hearts celebrations by signalling for offside and Dniepr were let off the hook. It was a close call, as Ferguson seemed onside to most onlookers. Thereafter Hearts began to look a bit unsure of themselves. The 1-1 draw in the Ukraine meant a goalless game in Gorgie would be enough to secure Hearts place in the second round and the maroons seemed to be in two minds as to whether to go on the offensive or play it tight. Dniepr sensed Hearts unease and looked menacing on the counter-attack. Sidelnikov forced Henry Smith into making a couple of saves and it was clear Hearts still had work to do to ensure their progression in the competition.

George Wright was being encouraged to get forward as often as possible and the midfield player had a chance after fifteen minutes when eh found himself with time and space on the edge of the Dniepr penalty box. However, Wright’s effort sailed high into the packed Tynecastle terracings. Joe Jordan signalled to Dave McPherson that he wanted to use the defender’s height in attack to unsettle Dniepr’s defence and the Ukrainians found the former Rangers man a handful. After twenty minutes Hearts were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. McKinlay, an astute crosser of the ball, delivered a fine ball into the danger area where confusion reigned among the Dniepr defenders. Keeper Gorodov completely missed the cross but big Dave McPherson didn’t and the Hearts man produced a superb diving header to nod Hearts in front both on the night and on aggregate. Big Slim’s delight was unrestrained particularly as he had been manhandled by the Ukrainians shortly before this and the tie had come to life. Two minutes later, Hearts came forward again. The ever-dangerous John Colquhoun crossed from the right towards Iain Ferguson who managed to flick the ball on to John Robertson. As Robbo was about to pull the trigger he was pushed off the ball by Gerashenko and the Norwegian referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Robertson picked himself up and fired his penalty past Gorodov to put Hearts 2-0 ahead and a step closer to the second round.

Dniepr seemed to lose the place for a brief spell after this and Hearts did their best to capitalise on their indiscipline. There was almost a third goal when keeper Gorodov fumbled the ball but Davie Kirkwood’s eagerness to punish this error saw him lunge in and he was booked for fouling the Dniepr custodian. The maroons game plan then suffered a set back after thirty-five minutes when George Wright hobbled off injured. But his replacement was a Tynecastle legend – Gary Mackay. The midfield player, a Hearts fanatic as well as long serving player, would ensure the maroons kept their focus. Henry Smith was thankfully keeping his when he produced a stunning save from Shakhov to keep the score at 2-0. But with just four minutes until the break Dniepr got the breakthrough that few could grudge them. Tosh McKinlay fouled Bagmut and now it was Dniepr’s turn for a penalty kick. Shakhov beat Henry Smith from the spot - the first goal Smith had conceded at Tynecastle in European competition in over 400 minutes – and the tie was back in the melting pot again. But not for long!

Hearts immediately raced to the other end of the park and forced a corner kick. Colquhoun’s cross was headed goalwards by Alan McLaren for the towering figure of John Robertson to nod past Gorodov. As the half-time whistle blew Hearts were, remarkably, 3-1 ahead on the night, 4-2 on aggregate.

It was all or nothing for Dniepr in the second half and there were some anxious moments, particularly when Kudritsky’s effort flew just inches over the crossbar and Gudimenko was denied by the alertness of keeper Henry Smith who dived at the forward’s feet. Hearts, though, weren’t averse to trying to secure the fourth goal that would put the tie beyond the Ukrainians and Gorodov who seemed to go down in instalments eventually saved Iain Ferguson’s effort. John Colquhoun’s effort towards the end of the game was also close to settling the game but it seemed Dniepr, sensing the game ebbing away from them, had resorted to some tough tackling. Colquhoun, Ferguson, and Neil Berry were all the victims of some crude challenges but despite this Hearts saw the game out and there were no further goals.

Hearts won 3-1 to go through 4-2 on aggregate and it was one of the more impressive European results for the Gorgie Boys. Along with 19,000 other Jambos, I celebrated a fine win that evening.