Paulo Sergio was full of praise the fighting spirit shown by his Hearts players as they forgot all about the off-field turmoil to beat Dunfermline 4-0 on Saturday. This is second win in eight games since their payment troubles began, thrashing the league's bottom club at Tynecastle.
Stephen Elliott, Mehdi Taouil, David Templeton and substitute Rudi Skacel were on target for Hearts. The game was just one day after senior players asked the SPL to intervene in their pay dispute with the club. That subject was discussed at yesterday's SPL board meeting as the players finally acted on their anger at the situation before taking their frustrations out on the Pars.
Sergio revelled in the win and the togetherness of his squad when he spoke to Hearts TV as the club's ban on speaking to the outside media continues. He said: "I'm very happy with the boys. They deserve it, they are living very hard times. We have to learn to fight together, not to turn our backs on the problems and be cowards. It's about the cumulative, it's thinking as one, as the team. It's for Hearts that I'm here. Thinking always about Hearts, not just one individual person. It's Hearts that matters to me."
There was one exception, with Andrew Driver removed from the squad after voicing his displeasure with Sergio. Sergio insisted Driver was a good player and was welcome at Hearts and was disappointed with the winger's wish to no longer play under his management.
The Hearts manager went on: "He has to learn to wait for his chance, because Hearts have more players than just Driver." One player who took his rare chance to shine was Elliott who has been a peripheral figure for much of the season but began the rout, scoring after just three minutes. Sergio praised his character, saying: "People have to wait for their chance and be ready. Stephen Elliott hasn't played too many games, but I believe in all of our players.
I want them to be focused and motivated, because when the chance arrives I want them to score and be happy on the pitch. I can put just 11 (players) each time on the pitch. I'm very, very happy about the performance of everybody." A collective spirit is key for Dunfermline, too, according to manager Jim McIntyre. After lamenting the familiar defensive failings which saw his side gift Hearts an early goal and concede three more, McIntyre called for his team to dig deep.
He said: "I believe in the players, but right at this present moment we are under-performing. We're all in it together - every one of us. It affects everyone. It's not just the players it affects. It's the whole club." Dunfermline welcome St Johnstone to East End Park on Christmas eve, still searching for a first home win of the season.
McIntyre is at times baffled with the performances of his players and worried about being cast adrift at the foot of the table. He added: "You can't come in and read the riot act all the time. The bottom line is there are a lot of experienced players in that dressing room. They know themselves. They're honest and they're the first to put their hand up and say 'I'm sorry about that'. Sorry's not good enough when it keeps happening. It's as simple as that. Unless we learn from it, we will get detached and it will be a long, long season."
Source: FOOTYMAD
