Football: KELLY: WE GAVE BILLY A WIN FOR THE ROAD.
Byline: KEVIN McALLION at Fir ParkMOTHERWELL ..2 HEARTS ...........0
DAVID KELLY fired Well to their first SPL win then dedicated the victory to departed boss Billy Davies.
The veteran striker's brilliant first-half goal and a clincher from Stuart Elliott dumped hapless Hearts as the Steelmen bagged three points at their eighth attempt this season.
It came too late for Davies who left last Tuesday and Kelly admitted the players owed their former boss this performance.
Ned said: "We were pleased for ourselves, pleased for the crowd but if you ask the players they will say they were most pleased for Billy.
"His team won the game playing to the principles he had been trying to instill in the team.
"He will have a big smile on his face when it gets through to him how well we played."
Kelly was one of Davies' eight summer buys and admits he was devastated when news of his gaffer's sacking came through.
The hitman sighed: "I've spoken to Billy but can't say what he thinks about the situation.
"I've not enjoyed a moment this week but that's the way football works. I've seen many managers get the sack and it is never nice."
Davies would still be in the Fir Park hotseat if his side had turned in the same kind of committed performance earlier in the season.
They swept Hearts aside and Kelly holds his hands up and admits the players must shoulder the blame for their ex-manager's situation.
He said: "We have been disappointing all season then we turn in a performance like that . . .
"Players get managers the sack and that's something which will never change. The gaffer gets the sack and you win - it's something strange that always seems to happen.
"Billy is an excellent boss and I am sure he will land another job easily."
Caretaker duo John Philliben and Miodrag Krivokapic stuck by Davies's training routine and gave some of his young proteges a chance to shine. Billy had given kids like Stephen Pearson, Keith Lasley, Steven Nicholas and Stephen Hammell their debuts during his three-year stint and all were on from the start.
They more than repaid the faith shown by the new regime and Philliben reckons they have set a target for the rest of the squad.
He said: "The youngsters deserved their chance as they have been playing well in the under-21 games and in training. They showed great energy and enthusiasm.
"If they can do that week-in week-out then it's up to the older players to match them and try to get their place back."
Philliben has been disappointed by the attitude of some senior players and reckons their poor shows got close pal Davies the sack.
He said: "The only disappointing factor was that it took his leaving to bring out a performance like that. Guilt is not the right word but some players owed Billy a performance."
Krivokapic was quoted as ruling himself out of the job on a full-time basis late last week but Philliben was insistent they were still keen on the idea.
He said: "We are both interested. We would be fools not to be. We have families to look after but the board has the final say and we will probably find out next weekend."
Their partnership got off to a bright start and Well pounded the Jambos from the off.
They should have grabbed the lead after just three minutes when Pearson's cross found Nicholas unmarked at the back post.
The winger could have gone for goal but instead picked out Kelly who seemingly couldn't miss from six yards. But Antti Niemi blocked his point-blank effort then smothered superbly as the striker homed in on the rebound.
Soon after, Kelly almost gave Andy Webster the slip with a clever turn but the kid defender recovered to make a crucial tackle.
Lasley was looking the most accomplished of the Lanarkshire kids and took the game to Hearts in 12 minutes with a storming solo run from just inside his own half.
A clever reverse pass picked out Hammell on the left but his cross was well held by Niemi.
The big Finn then showed his bravery to nip the ball ahead of Kelly after the striker had burst on to Elliott's head flick.
Niemi was the busier of the keepers and showed sharp reflexes again after 18 minutes.
Hammell's weighted pass cut out Thomas Flogel and Pearson showed great pace to cut inside only to fire his effort off the keeper's legs.
Hearts were on the back foot again in 28 minutes when Scott Leitch's deep corner spun off Stephen Simmons and back into the danger area. Elliott reacted quickly to flash in a scissors-kick that sailed just over the bar.
Even the cool head of Niemi showed signs of cracking under pressure. Ten minutes from the break he fumbled Nicholas' up and under from the right.
Pearson pounced on the loose ball and appealed for a penalty when his cross struck Simmons - but ref Garry Mitchell was right to turn him down.
Well deserved a goal and it was delivered after 37 minutes when Kelly fired a glorious opener.
The veteran's neat lay-off in midfield found Pearson and when the youngster played him in with a superb through-ball Kelly showed great composure to fire home a left-foot strike from 16 yards.
Well had the ball in the net on half-time when Elliott nodded home Hammell's cross but the striker had crept offside.
Hearts created their best chance early in the second half when Simmons cut in from the right and forced a fine save out of Mark Brown with a fierce 20-yard strike.
On the hour mark Elliott flashed in yet another header and this time it crept inches past the post.
Well extended their lead in 73 minutes when Elliott finally made his aerial power count - heading Hammell's free-kick into the net from 10 yards.
His effort looked fairly harmless but a wicked bounce wrong-footed Niemi and the ball crept home.
Hearts almost grabbed a consolation when Kevin McKenna's pass found Andy Kirk unmarked but his 12-yard strike was brilliantly palmed away by Brown.
Elliott should have tied the game up late on but shot wide with Lasley waiting for an easy tap-in.
Hearts boss Craig Levein said: "I was disappointed by the performance and lack of attitude.
"You can work on everything else in training but with attitude there's little you can do if it's not right.
"We had fans who came through here and paid good money and we owe them an apology.
REF WATCH ++ REF WATCH
GARRY MITCHELL couldn't decide whether to lay down the law or let the game flow. His good cop, bad cop act resulted in some awful fouls going unpunished while innocent challenges earned bookings. He was right to reject Stephen Pearson's appeal for a penalty but was rarely overworked. Rating: 5/10.
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Sep 23, 2001 |
| Words: | 1155 |
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