PARTY TIME IN GORGIE
Hearts stay in second gear but still stroll to victory before celebrating their championship triumph in style
‘Though we sometimes go down, we can aye go back up’
NEVER has this minor line of the club song been more apt or loudly sung.
Hearts were having a party and the team did its bit by recording a comfortable victory, without ever coming close to replicating the best of the form that has taken them to the Championship title in such quick order this season.
Invited to the Jamboree were a few notable guests of honour, Olympic gold-medal sprinter Allan Wells, Rebus actor Ken Stott and former Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen — here in his capacity as an ambassador for charities combating Motor Neurone Disease — all taking their places in the directors’ box before kick-off.
Stott arguably had the best seat of the lot, his spot next to chairwoman Ann Budge allowing him to enjoy a little reflected glory from the lady who has done so much to restore the Edinburgh club to health.
Budge has never seemed especially keen on the limelight but, sporting a scarf bearing the legend ‘Queen of Hearts’, she certainly appeared to be enjoying herself here as a packed stadium paid tribute to the champions.
Budge’s business plan, executed in the wake of the club’s administration process, which began at the death of Vladimir Romanov’s chaotic reign, was not absolutely predicated on achieving promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Without doubt, the balance sheet will be healthier — and the team better equipped to meet the challenges in the top flight — for having made such short work of beating Hibs and Rangers to first place.
Just one league defeat and three draws tells the story of how consistent Hearts have been this season.
For all Rangers’ greater financial muscle and Hibs’ claims to a more aesthetic brand of football, the Gorgie club have been worthy winners of the division and look in good shape to make an impact on next season’s top flight.
Under the guidance of director of football Craig Levein, Robbie Neilson has pieced together a squad that has depth in numbers.
While a little too much has been made of the influence of the young players who were overexposed during the relegation season (only Callum Paterson, Jamie Walker and Billy King started here), Neilson has proved clear-headed and focused throughout the season.
In opening goalscorer Osman Sow, they have a striker with the power, skill and instincts to trouble any Premiership defence, while a spine of Neil Alexander, Danny Wilson and Morgaro Gomis possess the know-how and quality to make a top-half finish a minimum objective for Hearts next term.
A lot had happened since they last played here a fortnight earlier. Two away wins at Raith Rovers and Falkirk ensured they were in a position to be crowned champions after Hibs’ defeat to Rangers last weekend and then there was the solemn occasion of the legendary Dave Mackay’s requiem.
The former Hearts, Spurs and Scotland star’s funeral cortege started at Tynecastle and there was a ceremonial aspect to the start of the game as the Queen of the South players emerged to form a guard of honour for their hosts.
Sow replicated the experience as he strolled through to net the opener after only six minutes, shrugging off the attentions of Queens skipper Chris Higgins before rolling a left-foot finish into the net.
An audacious flick from the effectively gangly Swede nearly doubled the lead but Queens keeper Zander Clark diverted the ball wide.
With the job done, there was always a latent danger that Hearts might take their eyes and minds off the ball — and that certainly seemed to be the case when Mark Millar’s free-kick was pushed back into the danger area by Alexander minutes after the restart. Fortunately for Hearts, they had a double safety as Derek Lyle’s horribly-skewed finish coincided with a linesman’s flag.
Hearts exacted punishment quickly, with long-shot expert Alim Ozturk accepting the invitation to strike a free-kick from 25 yards.
The Turkish-born defender has hit the ball cleaner but enjoyed the benefit of a deflection, which sent the ball spinning beyond Clark.
The end of the game brought an ovation for Budge and the club’s board of directors as they congregated in the centre circle before Neilson and his players emerged to take a lap of honour.
There was no trophy presentation, however. That must wait until the final day of the season when the visit of Rangers will conclude the league programme.