Fulton issues Ross Country cup warning

HEARTS midfielder Steve Fulton today warned Tennent’s Scottish Cup opponents Ross County not to get their hopes up about achieving another giant-killing act.

The First Division strugglers sent the Jambos tumbling out of the CIS Cup earlier this season after prevailing in a penalty shoot-out at Victoria Park in September, the home side coming out on top after the third-round tie had finished goalless after extra time.

Although nearly four months have passed since their Highland fling and County are now second bottom of the First Division, Neale Cooper’s outfit will still head to the Capital tomorrow hopeful of inflicting another shock result.

However, while that setback came in the middle of a terrible run of form by Hearts, Levein has masterminded a remarkable turnaround in his side’s fortunes.

The surprise CIS Cup exit was one of the Jambos’ low points of a roller-coaster opening to the current campaign. Hearts, though, have recently been showing the kind of form more associated with a club with aspirations of more than just finishing in the top six.

Wednesday’s impressive 2-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park was the Gorgie outfit’s fourth win in five league outings - the only hiccup coming courtesy of John O’Neil’s 90th-minute equaliser in the recent Tynecastle derby.

The players recovered well from that body blow to sweep aside the challenge of Saints and the confidence levels could not be higher going into tomorrow’s clash.

"A lot of people say we owe them one after what happened in Dingwall earlier this season," said Fulton.

"That was one of the low points of the season but it’s well behind us now and I think everybody will agree that we are quite a different side from the one they faced in September.

"The team’s confidence was low at that point and we were slaughtered after losing to them. Having already defeated us in the CIS Cup, they will no doubt come to Tynecastle with a bit of confidence. But we have no intention of suffering another shock like that."

He added: "We just need to keep working as hard as we have been over the last few weeks and if we can do that then I think we should do alright against them."

Fulton has been outstanding for Levein since being dropped by the manager following the 3-1 defeat at Ibrox last month - the Jambos only reverse in their last eight matches.

After being forced to sit out the home wins over Kilmarnock and Motherwell, the 31-year-old playmaker was recalled to the starting line-up for the Boxing Day victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

He has since pulled the strings from the middle of the park as Hearts came within a whisker of a rare derby triumph and then cruised to another three points in Perth in midweek.

The former Celtic star is delighted to be back in the fold again, and points to his outing in the recent Under-21 East of Scotland Shield win over Hibs at Easter Road as a key point in his season.

"I am really enjoying being back in the first team and everything seems to be going okay," he said. "The gaffer left me out for a couple of matches and I played in the East of Scotland clash with Hibs.

"Although it was full of young lads I really enjoyed the game, played well and got a lot of confidence back.

"I have been able to keep that going since returning to the first team and hopefully the results keep coming.

"After the disappointment of losing such a late goal in the derby we got back on track again at Perth.

"That gave us 13 points from a possible 15 and we have to be happy with that. We were getting heavily criticised when we were losing earlier in the season but we are delighted at the way in which we have turned things around. Tomorrow is a wee break from the league, though, but we are all looking forward to the match and have to go into it confident after our recent run of results."

Out of contract in the summer, Fulton has heard nothing yet of the chances of a new deal. But he would be more than happy to see his Gorgie career extended beyond the end of this season.

"That situation will take care of itself in due course," he added. "I would like to stay but that may be outwith my say.

"I am 31 and I’d like to think I could play a few more years in the SPL. Hopefully that would be with Hearts."

Tomorrow’s visitors will have to cope with the in-form attack of Gary Wales and Ricardo Fuller, who are looking more and more dangerous as a striking partnership with every game.

Neither took part in the defeat in Dingwall, the former Hamilton front man being forced to watch from the stand while the Jamaican had still to arrive in the Capital.

"It was frustrating watching that game and it was an unfortunate result for us on the night," he said.

"It was a difficult evening for us but we know all about them now and we are looking to keep our good run going."

Although strong favourites to book their place in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, Wales knows what a lift Ross County will have taken by being drawn against the Jambos again.

"When I was with Hamilton we always got a good boost when drawn against any of the bigger teams in the cup competitions," he said. "They will come down with nothing to lose but we have to be looking to win the match.

"And I don’t see why tomorrow can’t be the start of a good run in the cup. We are enjoying a good period at the moment and our confidence is so much higher now.

"We want to keep our form up and if we concentrate on each match as it comes along and take care of our own game then we should avoid an upset."

Taken from the Scotsman