VICTORY for Hibernian, self-defeat for Hearts. For a while, it looked as if Vladmir Romanov had got away with it again when Hearts levelled against the run of play then took control of this derby, but the petty politics that dominated another illogical team selection swayed the contest. Andy Webster, arguably the best defender in Scotland, was fit and sitting in the press box. He joined journalists in taking note of the gap he left being filled by Abdessalam Benjelloun, the Hibs substitute, to score a goal which may yet deprive Hearts of Champions League football.

Romanov will only have himself to blame if it does. The Hearts owner will argue that nobody has done more than him to help the club this season, yet nobody has done more to hinder them either. The overlord giveth, the overlord taketh away. Valdas Ivanauskas, seemingly nothing more than a pseudo manager, was asked about “his” team selection but declined to answer, recalling perhaps where outspokenness had got George Burley and Graham Rix. “

Only questions about the game,” he said, weakly. Like that wasn’t the biggest question this game threw up.

A couple of years ago, you could only admire the Hearts fans. The manner in which they united against Chris Robinson and resisted the sale of Tynecastle suggested they were not the types to tolerate any nonsense. So why are they so meekly accepting of Romanov’s rule? Such is their greed for success, their hunger for the truth has diminished.

It is now obvious Webster is not being selected because he has rejected a contract extension. Perhaps there is an argument for leaving him out, but what irritates is that Hearts are not brave enough to make it. Instead we are told the player is being rested. Just how tired is he? With Steven Pressley and Jose Goncalves injured, he should have played. Instead he wasn’t even a substitute. It was asking for trouble, and it got it.

Tony Mowbray, the Hibs manager, admitted the Hearts selection policy had given his players “a psychological lift”. He pointed out that although Gary Caldwell is leaving for Celtic and Derek Riordan is allowing his contract to run down to its October expiry, he still uses both. “Every club has their own agenda,” he shrugged. “Everyone has their own ideas, but ours is to play our best players.” It is a whole lot more effective. “That’s Hearts for you,” was Riordan’s addition to the debate. “You never know what their team is going to be. I hope they finish third.”

Webster still has a year left on his deal, but unless he signs another he may never appear again. Rudi Skacel, only a too-late substitute, is understood to have been demoted since rejecting a permanent move to the club. It is fairly obvious what the other Hearts players think about all this. “It’s people higher up than me that make those decisions,” muttered Craig Gordon, darkly.

Romanov has spent far more money on this Hearts squad than he needed to. What business sense was there in bringing in 11 players in the transfer window to a dressing room that was already standing room only? However much money you have, why subject yourself needlessly to a wage bill like that? The argument is that with such largesse Romanov deserves a sizable say, but he invests more money in football than time in understanding it.

Ivanauskas has every qualification for being Hearts’ next manager: he doesn’t argue with who is really in charge. Hence, much to Paul Hartley’s chagrin given how often he berates them, the lively but limited Lithuanian wingers Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis play every week. Julien Brellier is the outcast Romanov wanted him to be, notwithstanding how well Bruno Aguiar has replaced him. And what do the Hearts faithful have to say about it? They will ask why should they worry as long as they are winning, but they will be the losers in the end.

“Not every player understood what an important game this was,” said Ivanauskas. Not every chairman did either.

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