Source: Team_Talk
Obua was about to come off - JJ
Obua opened the scoring in the final half-hour of another hard-fought affair between the two sides, the first since December's so-called 'Battle of New Douglas Park'.[LNB]The goal was the Ugandan's first for almost six months and manager Jefferies was less than impressed by his second-half display before he nodded home Ryan Stevenson's inviting cross.[LNB]"I didn't think big Obua started the second half as well as I wanted so I was very close to subbing him," said Jefferies after masterminding Hearts' second straight win.[LNB]"Ryan Stevenson's made a great run and shown great composure because a lot of people would have played the ball in.[LNB]"But he took a touch, waited for the support and David just met it sweetly."[LNB]Substitute David Templeton was then gifted his first Hearts goal following a horrendous blunder from Brian Easton to settle a Tynecastle match that was as tight as Jefferies had anticipated.[LNB]"It was all about the result today," he said.[LNB]"The surface is bobbly and bumpy and it was never going to be a classic."[LNB]Hamilton's only real chance arrived shortly before Obua scored, with Flavio Paixao forcing a great stop by Marian Kello after a quick breakaway.[LNB]Otherwise, the visitors were set up to frustrate.[LNB]Jefferies said: "They're dogged, they sit in, they flood the middle of the park, especially when you get the ball.[LNB]"They won recently up at Tannadice, so that's what I told the players they were going to face today.[LNB]"It was all about the first goal today and I think the turning point was when Marian had a great save at 0-0 and we go straight up the park and score."[LNB]The result cemented Hearts' hold on sixth place after Aberdeen were beaten by Falkirk.[LNB]"Great weekend," Jefferies said.[LNB]"Somebody just told me that's the first time that we've won by two clear goals this year, so that's another plus for us."[LNB]Jefferies, who lost Suso Santana to a thigh knock early in the second half, singled out much-maligned defender Dawid Kucharski for special praise.[LNB]He also applauded a 10-minute cameo from Laryea Kingston, who took to the field to a mixture of cheers and jeers.[LNB]"He had a lively 10 minutes, he had a couple of pops at goal," said Jefferies, who promised the Ghana midfielder a fresh start after succeeding Csaba Laszlo as manager.[LNB]"Hopefully we can see that he's going to give his lot for us."[LNB]Kingston's commitment to Hearts has been called into question in the past but Jefferies hopes to help him win over his critics.[LNB]"I'll be kicking his backside in training to make sure he does that," he said.[LNB]The new Hearts boss also reiterated his intention to draw up a strict code of conduct on the day it emerged the three Jambos stars fined by the club for their post-match behaviour during December's defeat at Hamilton had been let off the hook by an administration blunder.[LNB]Opposite number Billy Reid agreed with Jefferies that the first goal was vital today.[LNB]"I don't think we deserved to take something out of the game," he admitted.[LNB]"They scored two goals and if you score two goals, you deserve to win the game.[LNB]"I certainly don't think there was anything in the game.[LNB]"I never felt under real pressure; they'll probably say the same.[LNB]"First real chance is probably Flavio Paixao being put through one on one with the goalkeeper.[LNB]"He smashed it - decent strike - the goalie's made good save, and they've gone up the park and scored a goal.[LNB]"I thought the first goal was always going to win it for either team and unfortunately it was Hearts who got it."[LNB][LNB]
