Ritchie could be ace in the pack
27 Sep 1997
The sweetness of the moment in replacing Hibs at the top of the premier division has been all too brief for Hearts. None the less, the Edinburgh side are enjoying a good start to their league season, which should continue today at Rugby Park. The home side is in the middle of a congested period of fixtures, having lost to new league leaders Rangers on Wednesday, and with a European Cup-Winners' Cup tie against Nice to look forward to on Thursday. Hearts have had the time to maintain their focus, and one player, Paul Ritchie, will be particularly looking forward to the fixture. He may have scored only a dozen goals for the Tynecastle club in 71 appearances, but four have come against Kilmarnock. ''Kilmarnock seem to be my lucky team,'' said Ritchie. ''But I think it's just one of those things. It's the way things happen sometimes in football but the most important thing at Rugby Park is not for me to score, but for us to get another three points.'' However short-lived Hearts' place at the top of the premier division was, Ritchie believes they can stay in contention. ''No disrespect to Kilmar- nock, but we have to be aspiring to beating clubs like them if we are to maintain a challenge,'' he said. Hearts have slight injury worries over strikers John Robertson and Stephane Adam but have added Thomas Flogel, Stuart Callaghan, and John-Paul Burns to their squad. Robertson is troubled by a groin injury and Adam has still not fully recovered from the hamstring strain which restricted his contribution to last week's win over Dundee United to 40 minutes, while keeper Gilles Rousset will be back in goal, having recovered from the cold that kept him out last week. Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson knows that despite some creditable performances, it his time his side started picking up points. ''It's extremely important that you make your home games count in this league, because it is so difficult to get anything playing away,'' Williamson said. ''We've taken five points from our four away games, which I think is great, but we now need something at home.'' To be fair to Kilmarnock, the midweek match against Rangers was their first home league game of the season, but the manager does not see today's opposition as being much easier. ''Hearts have had a very good start to the season and will be full of confidence, but I don't think we've started badly either,'' he said. Williamson has had 22-year-old Italian midfield player Piero Berenato on trial this week, and will have him for another seven days.. ''The lad has been quite impressive, so we will have him in next week to have another look at him,'' he said. Kilmarnock's only injury problem is defender Martin Baker, who was concussed in the Rangers match. Bookies' view: Kilmar- nock - 7-4; Hearts - 11-10; draw - 9-4.
Kilmarnock v Hearts Paul Sinclair
Taken from the Herald
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