Heart of Midlothian FC

[DavidMc]

Hearts sign Nade

Hearts have signed French striker Christian Nade from Sheffield United on a three-year contract.
The 23-year-old was close to joining Hull City in the summer but the player could not agree personal terms.

While not revealing the transfer fee, assistant coach Stephen Frail told the club website: "He is a good young striker with an excellent pedigree."

Hearts had hoped to sign Anthony Le Tallec from Liverpool but the forward has joined Le Mans in France.

Le Tallec was on loan to Sochaux last term, having previously been farmed out to Le Havre, St Etienne and Sunderland.

Nade arrived at Sheffield United from Le Havre last summer and scored four goals for the Blades.

[DavidMc]

Motherwell 0 - 2 Hearts, 03/09/2007

Laryea Kingston was the hero as Hearts secured their first win of the SPL season at Motherwell's expense after a scintillating game at Fir Park.

Midfielder Kingston, playing wide on the right, moved inside before firing home from the edge of the box.

Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks produced a fine save in the dying minutes from Chris Porter's stabbed effort.

And, as Well pressed forward, Kingston broke to set up Andrius Velicka, who chipped the ball over the goalkeeper.

It stretched Hearts' unbeaten record against their hosts to eight games.

Stephen Hughes had made his debut for his hometown club against the other outfit who were vying for the midfielder's signature from Leicester City.

Hearts brought in their own deadline-day signing, striker Christian Nade, while Audrius Ksanavicius was recalled.

Ksanavicius was immediately denied what looked like a stonewall penalty when he was bundled over by David Clarkson as he prepared to unleash a volley a foot inside the penalty box.

Calum Elliot was next to threaten for the visitors, peeling off his marker to meet a Robbie Neilson cross.

But the young striker's diving header from 12 yards was parried clear by goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Motherwell's first threat came via a fine ball through the middle from Paul Quinn.

Steve McGarry feinted past a couple of challenges but found his effort from 16 yards blocked by Jose Goncalves.

Hearts took the lead after 24 minutes, when Kingston teased Jim Paterson just outside the box before unleashing a low drive into the corner of the net.

Motherwell responded and it was Ibrahim Tall with the block this time to deny Keith Lasley from 12 yards.

From the resulting corner, Phil O'Donnell could only deflect Clarkson's driven cross wide from four yards out.

Ksanavicius fired into the side-netting, while Clarkson sliced well wide as both sides squandered good openings shortly before the break.

Motherwell were fired up early in the second half and only a double block denied Clarkson and Ross McCormack from close range.

A low drive from McGarry forced Steve Banks into his first save of the game and a McCormack free-kick evaded everyone in the box - and the far post.

Banks denied Porter at full stretch and Velicka made Well pay for that miss at the other end.

There was still time for Banks to pull off another fine stop from Well's debutant substitute, Lewis Grabban.



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Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson, McGarry, Lasley (Porter 56), O'Donnell (Grabban 90), Hughes, Clarkson, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Brian McLean, Mensing, Fitzpatrick, Corrigan.

Booked: Paterson.

Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Goncalves, Zaliukas, Stewart (Palazuelos 64), Kingston, Ksanavicius (Ivaskevicius 90), Nade (Velicka 57), Elliot.
Subs Not Used: Basso, Wallace, Mikoliunas, McGowan.

Booked: Tall, Neilson, Elliot, Palazuelos, Zaliukas.

Goals: Kingston 24, Velicka 90.

Att: 5,081

Ref: C Richmond

Hearts first win of the season. Romanov will now come out and say everything is OK now. Still a lot of strange things going on at Hearts and I reall think they will struggle this season. I can see trouble for them in the coming months ahead.

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian v Rangers
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 15th September 2007
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-Off 12:30

Hearts duo Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis are serious doubts, having both sustained hamstring playing for Lithuania on Wednesday.
But Calum Elliot and Michael Stewart have shaken off minor knocks and are fit for Saturday's early kick off.

Rangers defender Andy Webster damaged his ankle in a reserve fixture and is expected to miss 10 days of action.

Manager Walter Smith has no other fresh injury worries but may choose to rest players who were on international duty.

Rangers squad: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Whittaker, Ferguson, Thomson, Beasley, Naismith, Boyd, Novo, Cousin, Darcheville, Carroll, McCulloch, Shinnie, Fleck.

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT v Heart Of Midlothian
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd September 2007
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness have been boosted by the return to training of striker Graham Bayne and defender Richard Hastings as they prepare to entertain Hearts.
But Rory McAllister, Markus Paatelainen and Richard Hart are all definitely out, while David Proctor and Steven Watt are struggling with knocks.

Hearts defender Jose Goncalves is set to return from a groin injury.

Lithuanian winger Saulius Mikoliunas, banned by Uefa for two internationals this week, remains sidelined.



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Inverness CT (from): Fraser, Tokely, Hastings, McCaffrey, Munro, McGuire, Proctor, Black, Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Cowie, Vigurs, Wilson, McDonald, Bayne, Wyness, Niculae, Brewster, Malkowski, Watt.

Hearts (from): Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Zaliukas, Wallace, Kingston, Jonsson, Stewart, Driver, Velicka, Elliot, Nade, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius, Kurskis, Karipidis, Goncalves, Cesnauskis.

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT 2 - 1 Heart Of Midlothian
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd September 2007
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness player-manager Craig Brewster scored an injury-time winner to bring Hearts' SPL winning run to an end.
The visitors looked threatening before taking the lead after 34 minutes when the unfortunate Ian Black deflected Andrew Driver's cross into the net.
Denis Wyness fired home the equaliser when he converted Barry Wilson's cross after 63 minutes.

But Brewster shocked the Edinburgh side when he came off the bench to fire home the winner in injury-time.

Inverness were unchanged from the side which suffered a five-goal defeat by Celtic last week, with player-manager Craig Brewster among the substitutes.

Hearts were looking to continue their recent good league form after last Sunday's 4-2 victory over Rangers.

The Edinburgh club made two changes to the team which recorded that success, with Andrius Velicka and Kestutis Ivaskevicius both handed starts.

Michael Stewart dropped to the bench, while Christian Nade failed to make the squad.

Inverness went on the offensive in the opening stages and tested Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks when Wyness played the ball into the path of Don Cowie, whose 25-yard shot was comfortably saved.

Cowie's free-kick a minute later found Grant Munro at the back post and the defender's header across goal was hacked away by Christophe Berra.

When the ball came back into the 18-yard box, Wyness turned a volley towards goal, but Banks was well placed to save.

The home side were left to rue their misfortune when Ian Black put through his own net after 34 minutes when he deflected Driver's pass past the despairing Michael Fraser.

Inverness came more into the game after the break and Wyness scored the equaliser in the 63rd minute when he fired home Wilson's cross from close range.

The game looked destined to end in a draw before Brewster's dramatic late entry secured an unlikely victory for Inverness.

The veteran striker lashed the ball home from Alan Morgan's cross to give the SPL basement side a morale-boosting win.






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Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro McBain, Wilson, Black, Duncan, Cowie, Niculae, Wyness. Subs: Malkowski, Morgan, Hastings, McDonald, MacDonald, Vigurs, Brewster.

Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Berra, Tall, Wallace Kingston, Ivaskevicius, Zaliukas, Driver, Velicka, Ksanavicius. Subs: Kurskis, Goncalves, Pospisil, Jonsson, Elliot, Stewart, Kancelskis.

[DavidMc]

Heart Of Midlothian 4-1 Dunfermline (aet)
CIS Insurance Cup
Wednesday 26th September 07
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

Hearts endured the tension of extra-time to squeeze past Dunfermline on a night of drama at Tynecastle.
A first-half penalty from Christian Nade gave the SPL side a deserved lead over the Division One strugglers.

Hearts continued to dominate but former Jambo Stephen Simmons took the tie into extra-time with a late strike.

As Pars faded Christophe Berra restored Hearts lead before Elliot sealed their place in the last eight of the CIS Cup with a quick-fire double.



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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Berra, Kancelskis, Goncalves, Kingston, Stewart (Palazuelos 29), Ivaskevicius (Ksanavicius 65), Jonsson, Nade (Velicka 77), Elliot. Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Zaliukas.

Booked: Jonsson.

Goals: Nade 34 pen, Berra 97, Elliot 100, 102.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Young, Simmons, Bamba, Glass, Williamson (Ryan 62), Woods, Phinn (Owen Morrison 79), McBride (Hamilton 78), Crawford, McManus. Subs Not Used: Murdoch, McCulloch.

Booked: Simmons, McBride, Woods.

Goals: Simmons 84.

Att: 10,500

[DavidMc]

St Mirren v Heart Of Midlothian
Scottish Premier League
Sunday 30th September
Love Street, Paisley

St Mirren could lose Alan Reid for up to three weeks after he picked up a hamstring injury against Kilmarnock.
But the Buddies welcome fellow defender Franco Miranda back from suspension, although Ian Maxwell remains sidelined after knee surgery.

Winger Andrew Driver will return for Hearts after injury, but Lee Wallace is doubtful with a tight muscle.

Saulius Mikoliunas, Juho Makela and Mauricio Pinilla, Neil McCann and Bruno Aguiar remain on the sidelines.



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St Mirren (from): Smith, Van Zanten, Corcoran, Murray, Miranda, Kean, Burke, Mehmet, Brady, Howard, Haining, Potter, Brittain, Mason, O'Donnell, McCay, Barron, McGinn, Birchall.

Hearts (from): Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Zaliukas, Wallace, Kingston, Jonsson, Stewart, Driver, Velicka, Elliot, Nade, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius, Kurskis, Karipidis, Goncalves, Cesnauskis.

[DavidMc]

St Mirren 1-3 Hearts

Andrew Driver broke the deadlock with a fine strike
Goals from Andrew Driver, Michael Stewart and Andrius Velicka gave Hearts victory against a luckless St Mirren.
Driver gave the Edinburgh side the lead against the run of play in 40 minutes with a low drive from inside the box.
Stewart doubled Hearts' lead from the spot and Mark Corcoran reduced the deficit, before Velicka grabbed a third to seal the win.

The hosts were denied a penalty in the first-half when Eggert Jonsson appeared to foul Stephen O'Donnell.

French goalkeeper Anthony Basso made his Hearts debut at Love Street after Steve Banks was struck down by food poisoning.

There was no room for Calum Elliot despite his double in Tuesday's CIS Cup victory over Dunfermline.

Hearts made four changes with Driver returning from injury and Ibrahim Tall and Audrius Ksanavicius also coming in.

Tomas Kancelskis and Kestutis Ivaskevicius dropped to the bench alongside Elliot.

St Mirren recalled Franco Miranda after suspension with Alan Reid making way at left-back.

The hosts looked the more likely to score in a first half with plenty of endeavour but little in the way of skilful play.

St Mirren appealed for a penalty when Jonsson appeared to bring down O'Donnell but referee John Underhill waved away the appeals.

Driver gave Hearts the lead five minutes before the break when Michael Stewart's corner broke to him on the right-hand side of the penalty area and his flashing drive found the net.


The Edinburgh side pressed for a second goal before half-time and Ksanavicius forced Smith into a smart save after the Lithuanian volleyed Robbie Neilson's lay-off.

St Mirren's fans were further enraged 10 minutes into the second half when Stewart tumbled under David Van Zanten's challenge and the referee pointed to the spot.


St Mirren pushed to reduce the deficit but lacked a cutting edge in and around the box.

Van Zanten missed a glorious chance to score after 75 minutes when he blazed over from a couple of yards.

But the hosts set up a tense finish when Corcoran's bullet header from Chris Birchall's cross flashed past Hearts keeper Basso.

St Mirren's hopes of salvaging a point faded with seven minutes to go when Velicka beat keeper Chris Smith with a low shot from inside the box to seal the points for Hearts.




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St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, McCay, Haining (Kean 48), Potter, Mason, Murray, O'Donnell (Corcoran 59), Miranda, Birchall, Mehmet (McGinn 69). Subs Not Used: Howard, Brittain, Brady, Docherty.

Booked: Potter, McCay.

Goals: Corcoran 78.

Hearts: Basso, Neilson, Goncalves, Berra, Tall, Kingston, Jonsson, Driver, Stewart (Zaliukas 90), Ksanavicius (Elliot 46), Nade (Velicka 82). Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Palazuelos, Kancelskis, Ivaskevicius.

Booked: Ksanavicius, Stewart.

Goals: Driver 40, Stewart 56 pen, Velicka 83.

Att: 4,233

Good result for Hearts. This was a game where they could have dropped points. I dont see them challenging Rangers/Celtic but a good 3 points nonetheless.

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian v Falkirk
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 6th October 07
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

Hearts striker Mauricio Pinilla is back in training after a wrist operation and could be ready for first team action by the end of the month.
Goalkeeper Steve Banks is available again after missing last week's win over St Mirren through illness.

Falkirk defender Jack Ross is again missing but hopes to avoid an operation on his groin injury.

Striker Carl Finnigan is a doubt but should recover sufficiently from a dead leg to be considered.



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Hearts (from): Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Zaliukas, Kingston, Jonsson, Stewart, Driver, Velicka, Elliot, Nade, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius, Kurskis, Karipidis, Goncalves.

Falkirk (from): Krul, Holden, Barr, Milne, Scobbie, Cregg, Arfield, Latapy, Riera, Moutinho, Barrett, Higdon, Olejnik, Aafjes, Allison, Wallner, Craig, Thomson.

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian 4-2 Falkirk 06/10/07

Hearts eased to a convincing victory over Falkirk as they exposed the visitors' defence at Tynecastle.
The home side had already squandered a couple of opportunities by the fourth minute, when Andrius Ksanavicius fired home from a Laryea Kingston cross.

Marius Zaliukas slotted the second from 12 yards and, after the break, Andrius Velicka curled in a third and Christian Nade drilled the fourth.

Graham Barratt and Pedro Moutinho fired two late replies within three minutes.

Hearts had made four changes from the side that defeated St Mirren.

Steve Banks, Tomas Kancelskis, Zaliukas and Velicka came in for Nade, Jose Goncalves, Calum Elliot and Anthony Basso.

On-loan Spanish holding midfielder Arnau Riera started for Falkirk in place of striker Carl Finnigan.

It may have been John Hughes' intention to play more defensively, but the Bairns were under pressure as Hearts made a blistering start and could have been two up inside the first three minutes.

Michael Stewart placed a shot over the bar from close range after meeting Andrew Driver's cross.

Ksanavicius failed to make proper contact with a Laryea Kingston cross and goalkeeper Tim Krul easily gathered.

But Ksanavicius found the net a minute later from 10 yards following another Kingston cross across the box.

Falkirk hit back and Dean Holden had a fierce shot from the edge of the box palmed over by Banks, then Riera fired an effort over moments later.

Hearts doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Falkirk failed to clear a Stewart free-kick launched into the box and Zaliukas lashed the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Falkirk still tried to pass their way back into the game, but Moutinho's long-range effort was well held by Banks.

And Hearts should have been three up when Velicka gave Driver a clear run at goal only for the pacy winger to fire his shot off Krul.

Michael Higdon, Scott Arfield and Riera all had efforts on goal as Falkirk attempt to salvage something after the break.

But Hearts ended hopes of a revival after 57 minutes, Velicka breaking clear to score after a through ball from Kancelskis beat the offside trap.

Nade replaced Velicka and made an immediate impression, adding the fourth following a one-two with Kingston.

But Falkirk made the scoreline more respectable when Steven Thomson set up Barrett score from six yards after 86 minutes.

And, three minutes later, Holden's cross was fired home by Moutinho.



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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Kancelskis, Berra, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Kingston, Stewart (Palazuelos 75), Driver, Ksanavicius (Elliot 60), Velicka (Nade 64).
Subs Not Used: Basso, Tall, Karipidis, Ivaskevicius.

Booked: Nade.

Goals: Ksanavicius 5, Zaliukas 27, Velicka 58, Nade 68.

Falkirk: Krul, Holden, Barr, Milne, Scobbie, Arfield, Cregg, Riera (Barrett 66), Moutinho, Latapy (Thomson 65), Higdon (Finnigan 65).
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Allison, Wallner, Craig.

Booked: Barr, Moutinho, Riera.

Goals: Barrett 87, Moutinho 89.

Att: 15,800

[DavidMc]

Heart Of Midlothian 1-3 Dundee United
Saturday 20th October 07
Scottish Premier League

Dundee United arrested a two-game losing away run with a well-executed win at Tynecastle.
Jordan Robertson fired home after 14 minutes to shock the hosts, and he added a second in the 25th, taking advantage of poor home defending.

Barry Robson netted a penalty as Calum Elliot and United keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski received late red cards.

Laryea Kingston clipped home a free kick in injury time but it was far too late as United eased to victory.

The outcome brought Hearts' recent run of good form to a shuddering halt, with questions to be asked of the shoddy defending by the men in maroon.

The Edinburgh club made three changes to the side which beat Falkirk in their last match for United's visit.

Lithuanian trio Tomas Kancelskis, Audrius Ksanavicius and Andrius Velicka dropped out and were replaced by Jose Goncalves, Christian Nade and Calum Elliot.

Ex-Hearts chief Craig Levein, meanwhile, made just one change to the team which defeated Motherwell 1-0 a fortnight ago, Steven Robb being replaced by 19-year-old Robertson.

United won 4-0 in their last visit to Gorgie, but this trip to the capital was anticipated to be a tough test.

Hearts carved out the first chance when Christian Nade cut in from the left flank but his shot was well held by Grzegorz Szamotulski at his near post.

However, the visitors response was to promptly shock the vast majority of 16,661 crowd with the opener.

With Marius Zaliukas' failing to clear the danger in the penalty area, Robertson, on a season-long loan from Sheffield United, spun and cleverly drove home a left foot shot, with the ball going in off the post.

Hearts, clearly shellshocked, attempted to recover, but the teenager silenced the home fans with a swift second.

Lee Wilkie won an aerial battle in the penalty area from Christian Kalvenes' free kick and Robertson was first to react.

With the Jam Tarts defence once again lax, he fired the ball into the roof of the net to stun keeper Steve Banks.

Michael Stewart almost pulled a goal back at the other end, but the former Manchester United midfielder's shot was blocked by the scrum of United players who had retreated to the by-line.

With Hearts applying further pressure, Zaliukas had a shot cleared off the line by Morgaro Gomis, but the Tangerines retained their two-goal advantage at the break.

United has to marshall their resources as the second half progressed, as Hearts reacted in the best manner possible to the double blow with good possession.

Mauricio Pinilla was given an opportunity to impress in a maroon jersey for the first time since September last year, with Hearts fast running out of ideas.

Morgaro Gomis, meanwhile, was a composed presence for the Taysiders in a congested midfield, with United forced to work hard to hold on to their lead.

Hearts failed to create the sort of chances required to help them get back into the game.

Kingston did manage to drill a dangerous shot across the face of the goal, with the Ghanain playing a key role in the Jam Tarts' attempts to rescue the situation.

Hearts misery was completed with seconds remaining as Calum Elliot handled the ball on the goal line and the Scotland Under-21 youngster was summarily dismissed.

Robson crisply converted the spot kick, signalling the Hearts fans to depart Tynecastle in their droves.

Szamotulski, dramatically saw red with a late handball outside the penalty area, but it mattered little.

Kingston's set piece strike past substitute keeper Euan McLean was of no consequence in injury time, as United captured a morale-boosting three points.



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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Goncalves (Ivaskevicius 87), Kingston, Stewart, Jonsson, Driver (Ksanavicius 46), Nade (Pinilla 61), Elliot. Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Tall, Karipidis, Palazuelos.

Sent Off: Elliot (89).

Booked: Kingston.

Goals: Kingston 90.

Dundee Utd: Szamotulski, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Kalvenes, Flood (McLean 90), Bauben, Robson, Gomis (Kerr 83), Hunt, Jordan Robertson (Robb 83). Subs Not Used: Daly, Cameron, Kenneth, Duff.

Sent Off: Szamotulski (90).

Booked: Wilkie, Jordan Robertson, Szamotulski.

Goals: Jordan Robertson 14, 25, Robson 89 pen

Att: 16,661

[Doc-Bhoy]

quite surprised to see hearts lose so badly at home.