Hearts 2, Gretna under-21s 0

By: Graham | February 11th, 2008

A third victory in a row for Hearts came at the end of a week of rumours about the team being up for sale and, believe it or not, suggestions that Vladimir Romanov interfered in team selection. Beating Gretna at all is a rarity for Hearts and scoring two goals against them rarer still. However, this is a Gretna side that has already accepted the inevitability of relegation and their team was packed with teenagers as they look to build again for the future. The score should have been closer to 6-0 but for some wild misses. Andrius Velicka scored two but still looks like a man finding it hard to distinguish between the goal and the stands. Our Lithuanian winger twins also managed to look alike as they missed sitters, too.

The next three games will tell, of course, whether the corner – or any corner, in fact – has really been turned. Away to Celtic and Motherwell, followed by a mid-week Tynecastle tie with Rangers. Win those three and I would predict a third place finish that looked impossible just a month ago. We’ve been helped by the dip in form of the teams above us and the continued dominance of the Old Firm but it puts Europe back in the frame. But before I get carried away, it’s worth remembering that we’ve already had a few false dawns at Tynecastle this season and that a further three wins on the spin – especially against the opponents in question – is not likely.

If we don’t improve the ratio of goals scored to chances made, we’ll have little chance of winning consistently against opposition from the higher end of the table. Our last three victories have been against: a side already all but relegated; and Hibs and Aberdeen, whose form is in free fall. I don’t imagine Celtic, Rangers, and Motherwell are quaking at the thought of facing us in the coming weeks. But if you’re a Hearts fan, unpredictability is just part of the package.