That was for you, boss

""We were delighted to do it for Craig, there's a real sense of togetherness at the club""
Published Date: 18 March 2002
HEARTS skipper Steven Pressley today savoured Saturday's long-awaited victory over Hibs - and dedicated his dramatic, late winner to boss Craig Levein.
The victory was Levein's first derby success since he succeeded Jim Jefferies in the Tynecastle hot-seat nearly a year-and-a-half ago, the coach admitting afterwards that he was glad to have finally got the monkey off his back.

It was Pressley who bore the responsibility of taking the Jambos' late penalty at Easter Road and the big defender made no mistake, firing the ball beyond Nick Colgan to give the Gorgie side a valuable victory.

The win was of added significance as it returned Hearts to sixth place in the table with one game remaining before the split, but Pressley insisted he actually felt relaxed as he stepped forward to strike the pressure spot-kick.

He said: "I wasn't actually too nervous about taking the penalty because I made my mind up early where I was going to put the ball.

"Before I even placed it on the spot I was clear about what corner I was going to aim for and I just made sure I didn't change my mind.

"It was crucial that I scored and to get the win was very important for us.

"The boss was delighted at the end - you could see that on his face. It must be extremely difficult for him because he wanted to get that first win over Hibs, but really, once the players step out onto the field there's not a lot he can do to influence the game.

"We were delighted to do it for him, because there's a real sense of togetherness at the club and we knew what it meant to him and everybody else.

"The supporters also deserved it because they have been starved of success against Hibs and it was good to give them something to savour.

"It was also good for me personally because I've only experienced two or three derby wins over Hibs myself.

"That's two penalties I've scored now, so I'll keep taking them until I miss. I'm not getting carried away with myself, but it felt right to take the responsibility and I'll continue to do that."

With Hearts' fate now in their own hands with regards to making the top six before the SPL splits after next weekend's round of fixtures, talk will inevitably start to drift towards the club's prospects of claiming a European place.

However, Pressley is adamant that he won't be looking at a potential UEFA Cup berth until the Jambos' game with St Johnstone has been successfully negotiated.

He said: "Our target now is not Europe, it's to win next weekend's game against St Johnstone.

"We've had a very good win over Hibs but we can't afford to let our focus shift from the job in hand which is to secure the top-six place.

"People will expect us to beat St Johnstone, but then we were expected to beat Dundee United in our last home game and we ended up beaten.

"We have to be professional and look only at the next game. If we win we'll be in the top six and that's what we have to try and do."

New Scotland boss Berti Vogts is due to name his first squad for next week's friendly against France and Pressley is set to be included in the party which will travel for the match at the Stade de France in Paris.

Levein claimed at the weekend that Pressley should be named in the starting XI which faces the world and European champions, but the player himself is wary of touting himself for international honours.

Having played only a peripheral role under Craig Brown, winning a meagre two caps, the 28-year-old knows nothing is guaranteed under the new regime.

He said: "I've worked extremely hard when I've met up with the Scotland squads in the past and I'm desperate to be involved under the new manager.

"However, if Berti doesn't select me I'll accept that. Nobody knows what he's going to do but I'll be delighted if I've a part to play."

Taken from the Scotsman