Craig backs ref Dallas

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today backed referee Hugh Dallas to give striker Ricardo Fuller the sort of protection he believes the Jamaican has been deprived of in recent matches during tonight’s showdown with Rangers at Tynecastle.

The Jambos chief was left raging after the loan star received his second booking of the season for alleged diving in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Dunfermline, the latest card coming hard on the heels of similar punishment against Livingston.

To make matters worse for Hearts, the yellow card at East End Park from referee Kenny Clark took Fuller through the disciplinary points barrier and triggered a one-match ban - a suspension he will serve next week when the Jambos head to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock.

Levein felt compelled to speak out against the treatment of Fuller by the men in the middle, claiming the player was becoming so fed up with the allegations that he tries to con officials with theatrics that he could be eventually driven out of Scotland.

He insisted that he will continue to encourage Fuller to try to entertain supporters by running at opposition defenders, and maintained that the 22-year-old is not the type of player to go to ground easily.

With Hearts taking on CIS Cup finalists Rangers tonight under the glare of the television cameras (Sky Sports, 5.35pm), Levein is well aware of the increased attention which could be given to the Jamaican internationalist as he tries to get the better of Lorenzo Amoruso & Co.

And that is why he was more than happy to hear that World Cup referee Dallas had been handed the responsibility of handling this evening’s encounter, the third meeting between the teams this season.

"He is the best referee we have in Scotland," he said.

"I would perhaps be a bit concerned if there was a young and inexperienced man in the middle for the match, but Hugh Dallas is the top guy in his profession."

He added: "He can recognise fouls which others don’t see and when you are playing either member of the Old Firm you need a strong referee who will call things as he sees them and not be influenced by the crowd."

Kevin McKenna, meanwhile, will return to the centre of defence for the home side tonight.

The Canadian has missed his side’s last four matches - none of which have been won - due to international duty at the Gold Cup, where he helped his country finish the tournament in third place.

The centre-half bagged three goals as a striker in the event, staged in the United States over the past three weeks, to earn a place in the Team of the Tournament.

But, despite his skills up front, Levein will refuse the temptation to split up the successful strike pairing of Fuller and Gary Wales tonight, McKenna being set to replace Andy Webster in the centre of the home rearguard.

"I know Kevin has scored a few goals for us already this season, but that was when he was used as an emergency striker," he said.

"I see him as a centre back and always have done. I’m not saying I wouldn’t use him in attack if we were behind with five or ten minutes to go, but first and foremost he is a defender for Hearts.

"It will be good to have him back for the Rangers match. We gave him a few days off at the start of the week after he came back from America and he should be fine for the game.

"We have lacked his height at times during the games he missed so his availability is good news for us."

Thomas Flogel is also set to return to the starting line-up after missing out at Dunfermline with a cold and he is likely to line up on the right-hand side of a five-man midfield in place of the suspended Alan Maybury.

As revealed in the Evening News, the Irishman is banned for today’s clash after an administrative error by the SFA.

Maybury’s recent red card against Livingston meant he was due to serve a two-match suspension.

He duly sat out the trip to Celtic and should have completed the ban at East End Park.

However, a computer hiccup at Hampden Park meant the authorities failed to notice that fact until less than 24 hours before the Pars clash. They sent a letter to Tynecastle informing Hearts that the former Leeds star would therefore have to miss the Rangers match.

"Mistakes happen," said Levein, "and I’m not angry with the SFA about that. What I am still angry about is the original sending off which brought the ban about, but that has been well documented."

Levein, meanwhile, believes the presence of former Hibs boss Alex McLeish in the Rangers dugout has boosted the Glasgow side. McLeish departed Easter Road to take over at Ibrox earlier this season and, according to Levein, the appointment has freshened up the whole club.

"Sometimes a new face can make a difference and that’s what seems to have happened," Levein said.

"Rangers still have the same players and are playing the same sort of system, but since Alex arrived some players are maybe more relaxed and have been doing very well."

One of them is winger Peter Lovenkrands who was highlighted by Levein as a player Hearts must quickly nullify.

Taken from the Scotsman