THE LITTLE & BARGE SHOW
HEARTS SPECIAL - PAGES 46&47
UCHE IKPEAZU’S robust style of play once earned him the unflattering moniker of the “beast from the east”.
But it was the boy from the Far East who caused a stir in Hearts’ 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday lunchtime.
Ryotaro Meshino took centre stage at Tynecastle when the Japanese midfielder bagged his second goal since arriving on loan from Manchester City.
The 21-year-old greatly impressed alongside targetman Ikpeazu in a superb little and large partnership.
One that helped stop Steven Gerrard’s side returning to the league summit – and can now help the Jambos scale the table as far as Iain Ferguson sees it.
Craig Levein’s men sit 10th, five points off the top six, after just one win in nine games.
But ex-Hearts and Rangers striker Ferguson reckons the dynamic duo of Ikpeazu and Meshino offer genuine hope the Jambos will soon haul themselves into the top half.
He said: “It was a definite case of the little and large show at Tynecastle with Meshino and Ikpeazu running riot.
“The finish for Meshino’s goal was first class and it was brilliantly executed.
“You saw exactly what the lad meant to do. He has controlled the ball and didn’t panic then nailed it.
“It is a goal straight out of the top drawer and you have to admire the execution of it.
“I liked the look of Meshino as he is a very promising young player.
“You can see why Manchester City have signed him and, believe me, a club of their stature do not buy bad footballers.
“Every time Meshino got on the ball he caused problems.
“He played the role that Scott Arfield occupies for Rangers and did very well when he got the ball at his feet.
“Both his touch and movement were very good. He has really quick feet as he dummied a couple of opponents, which was great to see. He looks like a fantastic talent and Hearts have managed to snap him up on loan.
“I’m sure he will settle in and do well for the club.
“Meshino also linked the play up really well with Ikpeazu, which is largely why Hearts got some joy and walked away with a point.
“Ikpeazu is a throwback to the old-fashioned centreforwards of the past.
“He clearly has a physical side to his game as he challenges for every ball but his overall play was terrific.
“Scottish fans and Hearts supporters like their teams to show those physical attributes but Ikpeazu held the ball up well and has a decent touch for such a big guy.
“He was really unlucky not to open the scoring with a header inside the opening couple of minutes.
“Ikpeazu was a pivotal player for Hearts and he summed up the way the team played.
“It was a point gained for Hearts and they should be further up the table.
“Even though they are not on a good run of form I still feel that Hearts are in a false position in the league.
“The Meshino/Ikpeazu partnership is definitely something for Hearts to build on moving forward.
“Craig has motivated his players to get a good result against Rangers.
“That might just give them the confidence to kick on now and get a few more decent results to help them climb the table.” Ferguson’s mind wandered back to Jambos teams of old watching Sunday’s stalemate, ones that would hassle their opponents at every opportunity.
He believes Levein reverted to type with a system that has served the club well down the years as his side got stuck in from the get-go.
The 57-year-old, who spent two-and-a-half years in Gorgie before joining Motherwell, said: “It was a case of needs must for Hearts and Craig went back to a tried-and-tested formula. That was a Hearts performance rooted in the past.
“The Hearts philosophy was always put teams under pressure, hunt in packs and get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
“Traditionally Hearts have always played with a strike partnership. They always had a target-man up front as the focal point and somebody feeding off him. That was always the way Hearts played and in my striking days at Tynecastle it was Mike Galloway who fed off me.
“It was a similar tactic deployed by Craig, which worked to great effect with Meshino supporting Ikpeazu.
“Hearts didn’t just lump the ball up the park but they did play in a more direct and positive way.
“Rangers’ creative players weren’t able to get involved or influence the contest and that was all down to the way Hearts approached the game and went about their business.
“They were on top of Rangers right from the kick-off. Hearts were panicking Rangers all over the park and they showed great energy levels.
“One thing about Craig is he will make sure his teams are as fit as they can be. That energy helped the players win a lot of their individual battles. The expression a hard-fought draw was never so apt.”