Hearts wary of Falkirk repeat

STUART BATHGATE

HEARTS were flying high in the league the last time they met Falkirk on cup duty. Firmly established in third place, they had just returned refreshed from their winter break when they headed for Brockville. They lost 4-0.

A lot has changed since that Scottish Cup tie back in January: the key player in that Falkirk side, Collin Samuel, has moved on, as have the club themselves. But the memory of that humiliation is still vivid at Tynecastle, and no-one at the Edinburgh club is expecting an easy time of it when the teams meet in the capital in the third round of the CIS Cup tonight.

"It will be a hard game against a team with lots of experience," said assistant manager Peter Houston. "I realise they’ve lost a few players since then, but we know it’ll be a very difficult match."

Falkirk have not been performing as well as they did last season, but Houston, who was himself a player at Brockville, knows they will be well motivated for this match: "They’re a bit inconsistent in the league just now, but I’m sure John Hughes will turn them round and make a strong challenge. I played with Yogi at Falkirk, and he’s a winner."

Kevin Christie, Jason Lee and Ian MacSween are still unavailable to Hughes because of injury, while Craig Levein is without Phil Stamp.

The Hearts head coach was in France last night to watch his club’s forthcoming UEFA Cup opponents Bordeaux play Strasbourg in the French Cup. Houston stated that the Tynecastle club’s line-up would not be finalised until Levein’s return, but Craig Gordon will keep his place in goal.

"Craig is a young goalkeeper who has been doing very well. The only thing he lacks is experience, and the only way of getting experience is to play."

Robbie Neilson may also keep his place in defence.

Taken from the Scotsman