Hearts: Craig Thomson happy to prove that life's a bitch

Published on Friday 4 December 2009 09:47

Craig Thomson's quiet riposte will stand him in good stead for Jambos' crucial away day against Accies . . .

WHEN Kilmarnock's Garry Hay jokingly taunted Craig Thomson by telling him he was his "bitch" last Saturday, the teenager simply had to respond.

Saving face against a more experienced opponent was a challenge for such a young and unassuming player, yet his comeback couldn't have been scripted better.

Thomson angled two set-pieces into the opposition penalty box from which Hearts scored the goals that would secure a priceless victory. Never one for arrogance, Thomson simply cast a wry smile in Hay's direction at full-time.

Sunday's trip to New Douglas Park provides another opportunity for Hearts' dead-ball expert to showcase his inch-perfect deliveries. He might be only 18, but Thomson's swerving free-kicks are fast earning him a dangerous reputation across Scotland. As Hay might attest.

The circumstances which led to the Killie full-back's teasing of Thomson were that the youngster had been ordered about by Hay during a coaching session last year. Studying for an SFA coaching licence, Hay and his fellow students put the Hearts under-19 squad through their paces in a rigorous examination of their credentials.

Thomson did everything asked of him on the day but refused to be dictated to when SPL points were at stake.

Having graduated from the under-19s to become an established member of Hearts' first-team squad, he was fully prepared for the ensuing banter when he lined up at right midfield, directly opposite Hay. To say he responded unequivocally to the jibes would be an understatement.

"Garry gave me a bit of a hard time because I was a runner for him when he sat his coaching badges last year," smiled Thomson. "Our under-19s were there to do the exercises for the guys sitting their badges. I got to know him pretty well.

"Last week he was saying 'you can be my bitch again' and things like that. He's a good guy, a good player and somebody for young players like me to look up to. He gave me a bit of stick when I was up against him but it was enjoyable.

"I didn't say much at the end of the game, I kept myself quiet. I'm not the kind to say anything like that. I'm sure he knew what I meant when he saw my wee smile."

Thomson might have remained quiet but it speaks volumes for his maturity that he refused to bask in glory. His free-kick on 66 minutes led to Eggert Jonsson's opener before his corner ten minutes later allowed Christian Nade to head Hearts' second. For a player who sets time aside to rehearse dead-ball deliveries each week in training, the practice is paying dividends.

"I didn't think my ball for the first goal was particularly great, but we did score from it and I was happy to have a hand in the goal," he continued. "Christian's goal we had worked on with the gaffer and it came off. I was to whip the ball in as close to the striker as possible. I've tried to do that and we got a goal from it.

"We worked on set-pieces last week and it proves they are a big part of the game these days. If you can take your chances from set-pieces then you're going to win games."

A repeat performance at Hamilton would be more than useful as Hearts attempt to build on last weekend's triumph and move towards the SPL's top six. Thomson is in no doubt about the magnitude of Sunday's match.

"It was a good result at Rugby Park and, if we can get a win at Hamilton, it's an even bigger result," he said. "We need to try to keep climbing up the table. We're in the bottom six and I think we can get into the top six, we have the players to do that. For that reason, Hamilton is maybe a bigger game than Kilmarnock.

"We need to get our heads down and focus on this one. Hamilton are a good team, as they showed at Tynecastle when we beat them 2-1. If we can build confidence from Kilmarnock and keep scoring goals we can make our way up the league.

"We need points to get us up the table just now. We can work on performances after that. I thought the second half performance against Kilmarnock was pretty good.

"The first half was terrible, to be honest. If we play like we did in the second half we can get a result on Sunday."

Thomson may find himself shunted back to full-back if namesake Jason's hamstring complaint fails to subside and he said: "Playing wide right was a good experience because I like getting forward, but I'm just happy to play. I'll be concentrating on the game because I try to block everything else out. I want to concentrate on how I'm playing and how the team is playing. First and foremost it's about working our way up the table and getting into the top six. Then you can see what happens from there. It will be a hard task but I believe we can do it.

"The game is a lot quicker and it's a lot harder to keep the ball at first-team level but that's what I'm learning. If you can keep the ball then that is a success because passing the ball around forces the other team to chase you. Then gaps start to appear and you can play into them.

"That's how football should be played. If you get the other team knackered then they can't deal with you.

"We have quite a few young players in the team and we're always buzzing if we do get a chance. We just need to hope these chances come and hope that the gaffer keeps faith in us."

Thomson is hoping to encounter another familiar face in Lanarkshire. "Alistair Crawford played with me at Hearts but was released at under-15 level and is now with Hamilton," he said. "He's a talented player who plays just off the striker.

He's very good with both feet and I know he's been on the fringes of their squad, but I don't know if he'll play on Sunday." If he does, he better not attempt to strike up any banter with Thomson. The consequences for Accies could be devastating.