As mentioned in yesterday’s summary, the second half performance by Hearts was one of their most encouraging in quite some time. They gave us some much needed passion out there, like they actually wanted to play for the jersey, and the whole crowd got behind them in a way that has been sadly lacking at Tynecastle lately.
Granted, part of the reason that the crowd got all riled up was due to another despicable refereeing performance from John Underhill, the man responsible for probably the most biased display of officiating I’ve ever seen at Easter Road a couple of seasons ago. He was very similar in this game, giving us a series of quite blatantly inconsistent decisions in Kilmarnock’s favour that really got the home crowd going and this only helped the Hearts players to get stuck into their opponents. So perhaps it was a case of the mission failing in Mr Underhill’s case – I sincerely hope so!
Here is how I felt the boys in maroon did yesterday…
Player Ratings
Banks 5
No chance with the Killie goal, which was created by a sublime cross from the right wing, but for me he doesn’t command his area nearly enough, even despite his size. Kicking was dodgy again also.
Neilson 7
Really did everything he could to galvanise his team-mates and bombed up and down that right flank as though his life depended on it. Yes he has his limitations but he was effective yesterday.
Goncalves 6
Still looks very clumsy and ungainly at times, but did pretty solid defensive job and had a couple of good surges down the left in the second half.
Berra 6
Looked more comfortable with Karipidis alongside him, although found Invincible a real handful at times.
Karipidis 8
Had an excellent game on his first game back in a while. A more than adequate replacement for the injured Tall and light years ahead of Zaliukas on this evidence.
Palazuelos 5
Ineffectual and not a big enough presence in the middle of the park.
Jonsson 6
Was an ineffective as Palazuelos for long spells but then came onto a game in the latter part of the match, showing great drive and desire to help the side get back into it. Still needs to toughen up a bit.
Cesnauskas 7
Offered us the unpredictability that we’d been lacking lately and it allowed others more space to play. Good comeback.
Ksanavicius 3
Not at the races at all. Nothing came off for him and he was rightly subbed early in the second half.
Elliot 2
Stupidly sent off for two wild lunges that gave Underhill an opportunity he was never going to pass up.
Velicka 7
Played like a man possessed in the second half, scrambling home our equaliser and generally running himself into the ground.
Mikoliunas 6
On for Ksanavicius and surprisingly was the catalyst that turned the match in Hearts’ favour. Was like the Miko of old at times with his confident runs at defenders. Only a lack of protection by the appalling Underhill prevented him from creating a Hearts winner.
Pospisil 4
Not on for long but looked quite lively.
On for Velicka but struggled to be anywhere near as effective. Still looks unfit.
AGREE, I THINK HEARTS NEED A NEW LEFT BACK, AN ATTACKING MIDFIELDER (HOW MANY TIMES DO WE NOT HAVE A PLAYER IN BEHIND THE FORWARDS) AND TWO FORWARDS, PREFERRABLY NOT BIG LUMBERING HEAVY WEIGHTS, BUT PLAYERS WITH A TOUCH AND A SENSE OF CREATIVITY (PINILLA?).
We have had a player in behind recently but it’s unfortunately been one of the forward behind the man on his own up there, rather than a midfielder breaking to support a front two!
TRUE, AND THIS LEAVES A SINGLE OPTION FOR AN ATTACK, AS A FRIEND POINTED OUT TO ME LAST WEEK, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE HEARTS SCORED A GOAL THIS SEASON WHERE THE PLAYER CUT IN BEHIND THE DEFENCE AND SCORED FROM A ONE ON POSITION WITH THE GOALIE? NOT ONCE.
No – and the movement up front has not offered out midfield too much either due to a lack of understanding in that area. Our biggest strength 2 years ago was getting midfielders in behind the strikers and I’d like to see a return to that.
PERHAPS ALAN GOW COULD COME IN AND FILL THIS GAP. MUST ADMIT I DIDN’T THINK PALAZUELOS HAD THAT BAD A GAME AGAINST KILLIE, HE CAN PICK A GOOD PASS AND SEEMS TO HIT THE SAME WALL THAT HEARTS DO WHEN WE ARE TAKING A THROW IN, NOBODY WANTS THE BALL AND NOBODY IS WILLING TO MOVE FOR IT.
Yes Gow did that well for Falkirk. As for Ruben, I still think it’s been a difficult time to judge him as, like you say, he’s not had the liveliest lot buzzing around him! I do think we need a more dynamic and powerful midfield though – on the evidence of what I’ve seen so far neither Ruben nor Jonsson are quite strong enough…….yet.