Fans blow ill wind at the faint hearted

Hearts 1 Livingston 3 Subs: Wales for Fuller 68, Weir for Adam 82, Davidson for Simmons 85.

Not used: McKenzie, McCann.

Booked: Maybury 39, Webster 80.

Referee: K Toner.

Subs: Quino for Aurellio 79, Lowndes for Fernandez 85, Caputo for Wilson 90.

Not used: Solie, Del Nero.

Attendance: 12,173.

HEARTS, and their chief executive Chris Robinson, surely cannot survive too many more ordeals like this. The side was loudly booed off the field at half time, scarves and abuse were hurled in the direction of Robinson, and there was further loud and unprintable vitriol at the end.

After the game Hearts manager Craig Levein called for a collective effort to pull his club out of the mire, but unity and harmony were just about the last qualities evident at Tynecastle yesterday.

Down by two David Fernandez goals after just 25 minutes, the Jambos were on the canvas and counted out when Barry Wilson added a third in the second half. Livingston, who had merely played competently in a scrappy first half, could easily have doubled the tally as their confidence grew on their first league visit to Tynecastle.

The promoted side had won their corresponding fixture at Livingston 2-1, but in the intervening weeks their superiority has increased markedly.

In highlighting the unhappiness at Tynecastle it would be unfair not to dwell on another blossoming performance by the visitors. George McNeill, the former professional sprinter and Livingston fitness coach is instilling muscularity in the side, but there was finesse as well as strength.

Although in Fernandez they have a forward of some flair, the winners' biggest asset yesterday was the solidity of the unit, which proved much too robust for a Hearts side whose efforts resembled that of a headless chicken. Levein, working on a shoestring in comparison with his predecessor Jim Jefferies, has a mighty job on his hands.

This was Hearts' seventh defeat in eight league and cup games. Although it would be grossly unfair to judge a player on his first appearance, the loan signing of 31-year-old Finnish international Tommi Grondlund epitomises the problems facing Levein and Hearts.

Having been forced to sell Colin Cameron to Wolves, Levein brought in Grondlund from Swedish club Trelleborg in an effort to replicate the former skipper's bustling presence in midfield. The little Finn did more than his fair share of huffing and puffing, but will have to sharpen up his tackling and shooting if he is to be anything like as effective for Hearts as the man he replaced.

Another player making his home debut, Ricardo Fuller, could not be faulted for effort either, coming close to beating Nick Culkin with a first half header and second half shot before being replaced by Gary Wales. That said, the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist does not convince as an out-and-out finisher.

Levein opted for a 4-3-3 formation, playing Kevin McKenna as a target man up front between Stephane Adam and Fuller. Despite his second half goal, the central defender looked ill at ease in the role, heading weakly at Culkin twice early in the game when he should have done much better.

Had he been deployed in his usual defensive capacity, Fernandez might not have enjoyed so much freedom.

The first half was a largely scrambling affair, but the opening Livingston goal was well worked.

Good work up the left flank by the much improved David Bingham and Dario Aurellio brought the initial thrust, but the ball was cleared downfield only for another attack to be built up the right. Phillippe Bronquin sent in a fast travelling cross and Fernandez met it brilliantly to put his side ahead.

Four minutes later the Spanish striker consigned Hearts to yet another defeat when he met a Steve Tosh with his head to send the ball across Antti Niemi and into the net.

The home side briefly rallied at the start of the second half, but their requirement to press forward merely played into Livingston's hands. Aurellio, Fernandez and central defender John Anderson all had good chances to increase the margin before Wilson half-volleyed a shot past Niemi for a crashing, and crushing, third.

McKenna quickly reduced the leeway when he converted Adam's low cross, but such was the demoralisation among those wearing Hearts colours that the consolation was greeted with little acclaim and, as the game played out, it was the visitors who were in almost total command.

Jim Leishman, whose reputation grows in stature every game, summed up the performance of his side when he said: "We've got no superstars - just boys who work hard for each other. We're delighted to go away with three points."

His opposite number, Levein, took a long time to appear from the dressing room, but when he did he spoke candidly.

"Confidence just drained from us completely as soon as they took the lead," he confessed. "Nobody on the board was coaching or playing today. It requires every player and myself to do a bit more. I can understand the fans' frustration. It's not what I want to serve up to the supporters."

Honest words, but Levein's call for a collective effort does not appear to be reciprocated in the stands.

Copyright 2001
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