Maroon Memories: Ormond opens up with fine victory

RELEGATED Hearts managed to draw 12,000 fans to Tynecastle for their first home game in the old First Division in 1977.

And the fans enjoyed a 2-1 win over Dundee with Hearts being described as "nearly outplaying" the Dens men.

Way back in 1946 Hearts had turned down the chance to sign a certain Willie Ormond, who had just been demobbed from the Navy, on the grounds that he was too small and he only had one foot.

Ormond, of course went on to be a member of the Famous Five, city rivals Hibs' greatest-ever forward line and was manager of Scotland at the 1974 World Cup where they returned undefeated but failed to progress.

And, after this result, the Tynecastle punters were hoping that Ormond's appointment as manager would herald a new era for them -just as his signing for Hibs had done for them in the 1940s. He was said to have brought a new professionalism to Tynecastle with the players working for each other.

They were described as "alert and lively" and "without the old mad rushing about".

At the end of the season Hearts were indeed promoted to the Premier Division but only as runners-up to Morton.

The players who captured the supporters' imagination against Dundee were Graham Shaw and Drew Busby. Each scored a "superb" goal.

Busby was tasked with dealing with Dundee dangerman Gordon Strachan and Hearts quickly took control of midfield.

They created plenty of chances and gave new goalkeeper Ray Dunlop a relatively easy time of it by denying Dundee the chance to attack.

Shaw's goal came from all of 30 yards and was created by winger David Johnston and Willie Gibson.

Once he got the ball, Shaw did what was described as an "Ali shuffle" and sent a powerful, slow-rising, right-foot shot just under Dundee keeper Ally Donaldson's crossbar.

It was suggested to Ormond afterwards that it was just the kind of goal he would have scored - but with his left foot and he replied: "I've scored goals with my right, too.

"And, remember, it was the wrong foot for Graham Shaw."

Dundee didn't show the form that had many pundits reckoning they had the strongest team on paper - including Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone who showed just flashes of his old magic.

But Dark Blues manager Tommy Gemmell didn't seem too bothered and said he would still expect to beat Hearts at Dens.

Their goal came from Billy Pirie just two minutes from the end and Gemmell lamented that there wasn't enough time to mount a serious fightback.

Hearts: Dunlop, Brown, Jefferies, Fraser, Gallacher, Shaw, Gibson, Bannon, Smith, Busby, Johnston. Subs: Tierney, Rodger.

Dundee: Donaldson, Williamson, Johnston, McDougall, Caldwell, Phillip, Johnstone, Strachan, Pirie, Sinclair, Hutchinson. Subs: Redford, Ford.