Jambos can beat jinx to remain third force

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein is confident his team will be SPL ‘jinx-busters’ - if they can turn on the style in the second half of the season.

Not since Motherwell improved on their third place to finish second behind Rangers nine years ago has a side shown such consistency in the top flight.

Sides have traditionally struggled to maintain top form after proving themselves the best of the rest, Livingston, Hibs and Kilmarnock recent prime examples of clubs which have struggled after sweeping all before them 12 months previously.

Hearts, though, under Levein’s astute guidance, have given themselves a great chance of again finishing in third place, although the Gorgie chief knows things will have to improve.

As he prepared to go into battle with Celtic at Tynecastle tomorrow, Levein said: "Games in the SPL are always very tight and in all the matches we have been involved in or the games I have watched, very rarely have I seen one team dominate an entire match.

"You can dominate for a spell, as we have done loads of times this season, or perhaps even for a half, but not very often have I seen any team, apart for Celtic, dominate a match.

"We’re doing pretty much as we did last season and hopefully we are entering into a solid run of form.

"If we can regain the resilience we showed late in games last season, then I’m confident we can pick loads of points between now and the end of the season to consolidate that third position.

"If we can do that two years in a row then it will be a bit of an achievement, considering everything that is going on here.

"If we can close the gap on Rangers and not finish as far behind the second-placed team as last season then that will also be an achievement. But there is a hell of a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then."

The last time the teams met earlier this season, Celtic dished out a 5-0 hammering at Parkhead, the Jambos’ exertions in Europe taking a costly toll.

"We went straight into that game after playing Zeljeznicar in Bosnia in the UEFA Cup," said Levein.

"We played virtually the same team. But we used up a hell of a lot of energy in that European game, not just physically but mentally as well. It was a new experience for everybody.

"I think we were just spent at Parkhead and on top of that Celtic played quite well and that combination doesn’t work for me!

"Us being off form and Celtic being on form - I’d rather it was the other way around to give us a chance.

"We are at home which makes a bit of a difference and the players have confidence knowing they can beat Celtic after the result here last season. We also played very well against Rangers recently at Ibrox and deserved a point, maybe more, from the game.

"Generally our performances have been improving, we just need to pick up more points against the Old Firm.

"I don’t think anyone would deny that at this moment in time that Celtic are a stronger side than Rangers so although we did well against Rangers a few weeks back, this is a different proposition. But I don’t think Celtic are any stronger than they were last year so we are going into the game hopeful of taking all three points.

"But we need to be on the very top of our form and hope things don’t go their way tomorrow.

"If that’s the case then I think that there is a real possibility we can win the match."

Andy Kirk will join Jean-Louis Valois on the sidelines after failing to shake off his calf knock.


Taken from the Scotsman