20040410 Hearts in the Press from Scotsman Boss Craig sets points challenge Mark Bonthrone

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today set his players the challenge of bettering last season’s SPL points tally.

The Jambos are on course to consolidate last year’s third-place finish and again qualify for the UEFA Cup something few teams have managed in previous seasons.

Levein, however, is keen to see his side demonstrate they are progressing year on year and having seen the chance of catching Rangers in second place all but disappear he wants his players to surpass last years’s points total.

The Tynecastle side ended last season’s campaign with 63 points from 38 matches and prior to this afternoon’s trip to face Partick Thistle at Firhill they sat on the 54-point mark, nine points shy of that tally. Levein said: "I think the aim now is to try and do better than we did last year in terms of points.

"We got 63 points last season and we are not far short of that at the moment. I think in the remaining games we have it would be a realistic aim to try and reach more than that.

"We want to build and improve each year and that has to be the target."

Meanwhile, Levein revealed that young defender Christophe Berra suffered a broken nose during midweek against Motherwell.

Berra had to be replaced shortly before half-time in the 1-1 draw at Fir Park and X-rays have confirmed he has broken his nose.

Good news for the Jambos, however, is that the injury is not likely to keep him out of action for any considerable period of time.

Levein said: "X-rays have shown that Christophe has broken his nose but the bone has not been displaced at all so it’s not as serious as it could have been.

"He should be okay to play if we feel we need him."

Report Index--> 2003-04--> All for 20040410
<-Page	<-Team	Sat 10 Apr 2004 Partick Thistle 1 Hearts 0	Team->	Page->
<-Srce	<-Type	Scotsman ------ Report	Type->	Srce->
Craig Levein	<-auth	Mark Bonthrone	auth->	Alan Freeland
Hartley Paul		[A Thomson 49]
4	of 010	-----	L SPL	A
Boss Craig sets points challenge MARK BONTHRONE HEARTS boss Craig Levein today set his players the challenge of bettering last season’s SPL points tally. The Jambos are on course to consolidate last year’s third-place finish and again qualify for the UEFA Cup something few teams have managed in previous seasons. Levein, however, is keen to see his side demonstrate they are progressing year on year and having seen the chance of catching Rangers in second place all but disappear he wants his players to surpass last years’s points total. The Tynecastle side ended last season’s campaign with 63 points from 38 matches and prior to this afternoon’s trip to face Partick Thistle at Firhill they sat on the 54-point mark, nine points shy of that tally. Levein said: "I think the aim now is to try and do better than we did last year in terms of points. "We got 63 points last season and we are not far short of that at the moment. I think in the remaining games we have it would be a realistic aim to try and reach more than that. "We want to build and improve each year and that has to be the target." Meanwhile, Levein revealed that young defender Christophe Berra suffered a broken nose during midweek against Motherwell. Berra had to be replaced shortly before half-time in the 1-1 draw at Fir Park and X-rays have confirmed he has broken his nose. Good news for the Jambos, however, is that the injury is not likely to keep him out of action for any considerable period of time. Levein said: "X-rays have shown that Christophe has broken his nose but the bone has not been displaced at all so it’s not as serious as it could have been. "He should be okay to play if we feel we need him." Taken from the Scotsman
<-Page	<-Team	Sat 10 Apr 2004 Partick Thistle 1 Hearts 0	Team->	Page->