Strach overrules headstrong skipper

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave the Scottish Premier League leaders a flying start at Tynecastle when he volleyed home inside 30 seconds with the aid of some poor goalkeeping from Janos Balogh.But Bruno Aguiar levelled from a 30-yard free-kick and neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled during a well-contested second period.Hoops boss Strachan was missing Darren O'Dea and Georgios Samaras after both picked up injuries during Wednesday's 4-0 win over Falkirk.And he insisted McManus had to come at half-time despite the defender claiming he was fine to play through his ankle injury."It was frantic, good fun," said Strachan."I was pleased with a lot of things - once we got our back four sorted out, once we got Mick (McManus) off the pitch, because he is too brave for his own good."An 80% Mick is fine but 50% or less is not really good enough."I felt sorry for him but I do believe he has to say, 'Enough is enough, the pain is too much'. Once we got that sorted out, it was fine."McManus was a pre-match doubt with the same problem that kept him out of Scotland's 3-0 defeat in Holland last month."We kept asking and he kept saying he was fine," Strachan said. "Then I had to make a decision for his own good and our good."I think he pushed himself to play for Scotland. That's the way he is; he just doesn't want to let that Scotland place go - and here too."But we had to be strong with him at half-time."Strachan, who brought Glenn Loovens in and played Gary Caldwell in midfield during the first half, was satisfied with Celtic's display.He added: "We defended set plays well because we were against the 'Land Of The Giants' out there."I tried to pick a team, still with a bit of flair, and with a wee bit of height."When the game died down for the last 35 minutes, I thought we made all the chances."When asked if Celtic had gained a point or lost two, Strachan said: "I'll know at the end of the season."But, at the moment, I feel it's not too bad considering the injuries we have picked up."We had to deal with injuries during it and a frantic game of football."They have about eight players 6ft and over and they use their weapons well."There is a lot of ice in that dressing room - it's like the dining room on the Titanic in there."Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo refused to apportion blame for Vennegoor of Hesselink's strike but he admitted his side have to stop conceding early goals."If you think about how many times we have given a gift to the opponents, it would drive you crazy," he said."It doesn't matter if it's Christmas Day or Mother's Day, we hand out gifts."Now it's Easter, we gave away a huge egg after 30 seconds."But Laszlo added: "In the last five minutes, they had very good chances but, before this, we should have decided the game."

Source: Team_Talk