Slim sets Hearts new target after Ibrox win

BY PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS can use their landmark victory over Rangers at Ibrox as a catalyst to split the Old Firm next season, insists former Jambos star Dave McPherson.

Joe Hamill carved himself a niche in Gorgie folklore with his 50th-minute strike which clinched a rare triumph for Craig Levein’s side on Wednesday night, the winger pouncing on a poor backpass from Alan Hutton to secure the Jambos’ first away win over the Glasgow giants in over eight years.

The margin of victory could have been even greater with Scott Severin and Paul Hartley both missing opportunities as the men in maroon more than matched their opponents.

Levein went into the match without the likes of the experienced Steven Pressley, Mark de Vries, Phil Stamp and Alan Maybury with Hamill, Neil Janczyk and Graham Weir pressed into action in a makeshift starting XI which also saw Patrick Kisnorbo slot in at left-back.

Levein, who has now masterminded victories over both halves of the Old Firm following last season’s dramatic defeat of Celtic at Tynecastle, was understandably proud at the way his young team coped with the quite different pressure of taking on Alex McLeish’s outfit in Glasgow - and he hopes to see his men carry on the good work next season.

It is a view shared by former Scotland international McPherson, who was a key performer in the Hearts side the last time the Gorgie outfit came out on top against Rangers in Govan, Allan Johnston’s hat-trick sealing a memorable 3-0 win back in January, 1996.

And ex-Hearts and Rangers defender Slim reckons the midweek victory, which came on the back of a series of recent impressive displays against the Old Firm, could act as the perfect platform for next year’s SPL campaign.

McPherson, in fact, predicts an even stronger assault by the Jam Tarts, who have proved themselves to be the ‘best of the rest’ in the top flight for the second year running with an improved points total into the bargain.

"I watched the game at Ibrox on the television and thought Hearts were excellent - they played really well," said McPherson.

"Eight years is a long time to go without a win but the likes of Ibrox and Parkhead are very difficult places to play.

"You tend to need a bit of luck to get a victory and that’s what we had in 1996. We didn’t lose an early goal and came into the game.

"Hearts settled into the match very quickly on Wednesday and passed the ball well in the first ten minutes. Even at that stage I thought they could get at least a draw out of the match.

"There were a few of the more senior players missing but that gave the younger ones an opportunity and there is no better platform to perform than Ibrox.

"Some people will say they had a defensive set-up at Ibrox but they got the ball forward to Graham Weir and he did well holding it up while support flooded through from the midfield.

"It worked well for them and they could have scored two or three goals on the night.

"They showed tremendous character and I am sure it will hold them in good stead for next season when I’m confident they will finish third again, if not higher. And why not second place? The win at Ibrox will have given all the guys a massive lift."

The new campaign promises to be a tough examination for Levein and his troops, with a number of first-team stars set to pursue their futures elsewhere with the club unable to afford new deals to keep them in Gorgie.

Levein, though, has already proved himself to be a shrewd mover in the transfer market and his eye for a bargain will once again be tested to the full over the coming summer months.

And despite the ongoing cutbacks afflicting the Levein era, McPherson sees no reason why the Jambos cannot continue to flourish under the former Cowdenbeath boss - with second place in the league now a realistic target as far as the former Jambo is concerned.

Such an achievement will be an extremely tough ask, with Rangers having already clinched the signatures of Croatian striker Dado Prso and Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong for next term.

But McPherson declared: "Hearts have had a magnificent season considering all the off-field problems. And all credit to the management team for the way they have had the team prepared this season.

"Clearly some players will be leaving in the summer. The same thing happened last year and Craig Levein brought in some good players. He will have to do the same again this time round. If he does, and I am sure he will, Hearts will do well again.

"The Ibrox win will help the players believe they can compete at that level. They have got to take it forward into next season and I’m sure they will."

Taken from the Scotsman