LEVEIN LIKES THE LOK OF HIS RECRUITS
HEARTS ......... 0 LOKEREN ......... 1
HEARTS boss Craig Levein was impressed by new boys David Vanecek and Conor Shaughnessy despite seeing his side slip to a friendly defeat.
Levein handed first starts to Czech striker Vanecek and on-loan Leeds defender Shaughnessy but it was Lokeren hitman Dorde Jovanovic who made the difference in Murcia.
However, Levein was still happy with the workout and believes there’s more to come from his January signings.
The Tynecastle gaffer said: “David did the things I wanted him to do.
“He held the ball up and if he didn’t win his headers he always kept the ball in areas around him.
“He could also have won a penalty for us.
“So I was very pleased with him and young Conor did well too.
“We did not get any injuries so I was happy.
“We looked a bit tired at times because we have worked really hard this week in training.
“We will do a little bit less next week and we will be ready for the Scottish Cup game with Livingston next weekend.”
This was the only friendly of Hearts’ week-long training camp in Spain and Lokeren, who sit bottom of the Belgian top flight, gave them a good workout.
Jovanovic thought he had given Lokeren an early lead when he thumped a ANTHONY HAGGERTY header past Colin Doyle but it was flagged offside.
Hearts responded with a run and shot from Sean Clare that was tipped over by Ortwin de Wolf.
But they fell behind in 13 minutes when Jovanovic latched on to Geoffrey Bia’s slide-rule pass and slotted home.
Vanecek almost restored parity when he headed Olly Lee’s cross over the bar.
Steven Naismith was then denied an equaliser when his glancing header hit the net but the referee had already blown for a foul by Clevid Dikamona.
Jovanovic was causing the Jambos defence all sorts of problems and twice came close to adding another before the break.
Levein rang the changes at half-time with Doyle, Christophe Berra, Lee and Ben Garuccio making way for Zdenek Zlamal, Harry Cochrane, Jake Mulraney and Demi Mitchell.
And Zlamal made a fine save to stop Bia from making it 2-0 with a curler.
Oliver Bozanic, Anthony McDonald and Steven MacLean then came on for the Jambos.
And it was veteran striker MacLean who came closest to a leveller, heading Cochrane’s cross at the keeper.
But the Belgians held on comfortably for the win.