CHRISTIE WANTS TO HEAR SOUND OF SILENCE

Christie leads his Caley Jags players to Edinburgh to play a Hearts team under pressure after their defeat by Rangers last weekend and midweek failure to qualify for the Champions League. He believes keeping the home fans as quiet as possible is the key to success.

He said: "We have achieved good results there in the past and we have to try to silence the crowd early. If they were to start on the front foot then they will have the fans on their side and that can work in their favour.

"Hearts are not firing on all cylinders and they've had an up-and-down season. When they are at their best at Tynecastle they are formidable. I recall the 3-1 game we won there a few years ago in the Scottish Cup. My family were there that day and they noticed it straight away, saying it was probably the best atmosphere they have experienced. I really enjoyed playing that day. The fans are much closer and it lends itself to a good atmosphere."

The unrelenting pressure and high demands set by Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov means nothing less than victory is acceptable at Tynecastle, but Christie believes the task facing his side today is not as daunting as it was a year ago. He said: "When we played them here last season they battered us early on but I think Rudi Skacel was an important player for them then and they are missing his presence in the team."