Gordon's run of games gives settled Hearts a solid backbone

MIKE AITKEN

WHEN Craig Gordon plays his 22nd consecutive first team game for Hearts against Dunfermline at East End Park this afternoon, the growing bond of understanding between the 21-year-old goalkeeper and central defenders Steven Pressley and Andy Webster could play a significant part in maintaining the gap between the sides challenging for third place in the Premierleague.

Although it would be thoroughly over-egging the pudding to draw a comparison with, say, Jim Leighton, Alex McLeish and Willie Miller, the triumvirate who laid the foundations of Aberdeen’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson, the blend of Gordon, Pressley and Webster has worked well enough for Hearts this season to steer the Tynecastle club nine points clear of Dunfermline.

Any side which wants to become hard to beat needs to pay attention to the relationship between the goalkeeper and the centre-backs. The natural inclination in this area, is to rely on experience. While Pressley is probably the best footballer in the SPL not employed by the Old Firm, Gordon and Webster are still young enough to be viewed as apprentices. "The relationship between the three of us is important and I think we are starting to build a partnership," said the goalkeeper. "Obviously, it wasn’t pleasing to lose two goals at Livingston, but for the last wee while we’ve been pretty solid."

Gordon came into the side at Firhill the week after Hearts lost 5-0 to Celtic.

"I’ve enjoyed a good run and at the start of the season I don’t suppose I would have expected to play as often as I have done," he admitted. "The important thing for me has been to stay in the side. Experience is vital for a goalkeeper and the chance to play first-team football is worth so much more than the same number of games in the reserves. Things happen quicker, there’s more pressure and you’re up against better players. I’m sure it’s helped my development enormously."

Gordon was well aware of Hearts’ interest last summer in signing the German goalkeeper George Koch and feared he might have to wait years for a first-team opportunity if that deal had gone through. "He came over to train with us and with his international experience looked very impressive. I knew about him all right because he was in my team on the computer game Championship Manager! As things worked out, he didn’t come here and that was a bit of luck for me."

Craig Levein, the head coach, will be forced to make changes from the side which won at Almondvale since Paul Hartley and Mark de Vries are both missing through injury. Normally, Levein would replace De Vries up front with Kevin McKenna, who can also play the role of target man. McKenna, though, has started as part of a three man defensive set-up in recent games and that looks on the cards again this afternoon.

Phil Stamp isn’t 100 per cent fit, but should play for most of the game. Levein feels his players are adaptable enough to play more than one system and also to adjust to the different demands posed by a plastic pitch.

"If the players give me the same level of performance they produced against Dundee United and Livingston then I’ll be really happy and hopeful that will be enough to get us at least a point," he said.

Taken from the Scotsman