Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies: I had to play Goncalves
Goncalves was a shock starter at Tannadice, the Portuguese defender being drafted in amid an injury crisis that saw the visitors missing 14 first-team squad members, including three centre-halves.[LNB]It was Goncalves' first appearance under Jefferies, who had vowed not to play him while he refused to sign a new deal with the club, and his selection followed reports that permission to field him had been sought from majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.[LNB]Jefferies, who succeeded Csaba Laszlo in January, denied any knowledge of that but revealed he had discussed the matter with Metlitksi.[LNB]"I report to the sporting director and I told him the situation, that we needed to play him," Jefferies said following his side's 1-0 defeat. "He agreed and there was no problem.[LNB]"Everybody understands that it was a necessity today because of the injuries we've had.[LNB]"If I had somebody else fit, he wouldn't have played. If he hadn't have played today God knows who I would've played in there."[LNB]Jefferies denied previously stating Goncalves would not be selected until he extended his contract, which expires this summer.[LNB]And asked if Goncalves would remain part of his plans for the rest of the season, Jefferies added: "We'll obviously try to negotiate and get this thing resolved.[LNB]"If we don't, well wait and see. It's better to concentrate on players who want to be here."[LNB]Hearts' injury list grew even further when captain Michael Stewart was forced to pull out of the side after the warm-up.[LNB]The midfielder picked up a calf strain on Thursday and it had been hoped he would shake it off.[LNB]"By the time he was on the bus coming up here and warming up it just stiffened up," said Jefferies, who hailed the performance of stand-in Paul Mulrooney.[LNB]"He (Mulrooney) covered every blade of grass, tackled well, competed, passed it quite well.[LNB]"What a terrific plus for us today when you see a young kid like that."[LNB]United boss Peter Houston admitted he feared his side would be made to pay for their wasteful finishing before Morgaro Gomis sealed a 1-0 victory.[LNB]Gomis' 77th-minute winner, which found the net via a huge deflection, was the midfielder's third goal in two games.[LNB]Houston said: "We must have a midfield player in the box and Morgaro has taken me to task on that one and he's become a machine.[LNB]"I'm delighted with the three points today because you never get an easy game against a Hearts team."[LNB]Houston felt his side should have had a first-half penalty when the ball appeared to strike David Obua's hand.[LNB]"I was at pains to wonder why we never got the penalty kick there," he said.[LNB]United left-back Paul Dixon was forced off in the second half with a problem with his right ankle, having sat out games recently with a knock to his left one.[LNB]"Hopefully it's not as bad but hopefully the next 48 hours we'll be able to tell," Houston said.[LNB]Sunday's win lifted United back up above Hibernian into third place, 11 points clear of their sixth-placed opponents.[LNB]Houston admitted the race to finish behind the Old Firm was looking a three-club affair but added: "I think there'll be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season because we're going to be playing each other."[LNB][LNB]
