Hearts boss in fans plea

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today urged fans to ignore the off-field events enveloping the club and give their total backing to the team in tomorrow’s SPL clash with Aberdeen in the Capital.

The visit of the Dons is the Jambos’ first competitive match at Tynecastle since home games towards the end of last season were punctuated by a series of protests against the board and Chris Robinson in particular.

With Save Our Hearts organising another campaign at tomorrow’s game - 5000 posters have been printed asking supporters to choose between the chief executive and the football club - fans are set to use the occasion to again focus on the under-fire chief executive, whose plan to sell the stadium and move to Murrayfield has brought howls of criticism from the majority of the Gorgie faithful.

However, Levein is hoping the fans will concentrate on the action on the park as Hearts attempt to consolidate their good start to the campaign after last week’s win at Dundee.

"I could wish for no protests tomorrow but I don’t know if that will happen," he said. "Aberdeen look set to bring a big support and hopefully there will be a bit of rivalry between both sets of fans. I’d like to think they will revel in the atmosphere and concentrate on the football rather than anything else."

The players did a magnificent job of refusing to allow last term’s protests affect their performances and Levein insist they are again focused on producing the right results.

He said: "We have spoken about it in the dressing-room and know what we have to do as a group. We will keep our heads down and just get on with the job.

"We have a decent record at Tynecastle and will be looking to win the game." Striker Graham Weir returned to training yesterday after injuring an ankle earlier in the week and should be fit for consideration after partnering Ramon Pereira at Dens Park.

Weir’s recovery is good news for Levein, who is again without Mark de Vries, Kevin McKenna, Stephen Simmons and Neil Janczyk.

With the defence looking rock-solid last weekend, former Aberdeen star Jamie McAllister looks set to have to wait for his debut after sitting on the bench at Dundee.

"The guys at the back all did well last weekend," said Levein. "They have possession of the jerseys and Jamie knows the score. He was unlucky last weekend after picking up his injury against Fulham.

"He didn’t declare himself fit until the Friday and by that time we had done a lot of work on the shape of the side and how we were going to play at Dundee.

"I decided therefore to leave him out. Robbie Neilson played at right back with Alan Maybury at left-back and they both did good jobs as did Steven Pressley and Andy Webster."

Tomorrow’s game marks the return to Tynecastle of Scott Severin after midfielder left Gorgie in the summer to sign for the Dons.

"It will be good to see Seve again and no-one knows more than me about his value to a team and I think he will improve Aberdeen," said Levein.

"With all due respect to Dundee, I think tomorrow’s game will be a better gauge as to how well we are shaping up early in the season.

"It will be a tough game as Aberdeen were difficult opponents even before Jimmy Calderwood went there and the club has been given a lift over the summer with the signing of Seve and also the return of Willie Miller."

Taken from the Scotsman