Jambo midfielder admits he should have sealed win

PAUL KIDDIE

PAUL HARTLEY today held his hands up to the glaring miss which cost Hearts victory over Rangers, the midfielder admitting: "I should have won the game for us."

The Tynecastle clash was heading for a 0-0 stalemate when Alan Maybury’s cross set up the 27-year-old with just two minutes left on the clock.

However, having timed his run into the Rangers box perfectly, Hartley somehow headed over from close range with only Stefan Klos to beat, the German having decided to stay on his line as the Gorgie ace burst through.

"To be honest I was expecting the goalkeeper to come out and clatter me and I was surprised when he didn’t come out," said Hartley.

"I actually caught the ball too early and too well. I made a late run into the box and it was a brilliant ball in but I just got too much on it. It was disappointing as that would almost certainly have won the match for us. On another day it might have gone in."

Despite his disappointment at seeing his chance of glory disappear into the Roseburn Stand, Hartley was happy enough with the share of the spoils.

"It was a good result but I think we might have taken the three points, particularly with the good chance I had at the end," he said.

"I thought we competed well and were the better team. Hopefully it has gone some way to making up for the Motherwell game.

"I thought we created the better openings and it certainly helped having big Mark back in attack. In the first half we caused them all sorts of problems but to be fair in the scheme of things you can’t complain with a point against Rangers.

"It’s a big month for us and to start with a pretty good result is what we needed."

Levein, meanwhile, revealed that captain Steven Pressley almost didn’t play yesterday after his troublesome back flared up during the warm-up 15 minutes before kick-off. The defender had been a doubtful after back spasms while on Scotland duty and Levein said: "He felt his back during the warm-up and it was touch and go whether he played or not.

"I had to leave the decision completely with him but we almost had to change the team lines with 15 minutes to go and bring in Christophe Berra.

"The problem is ongoing and we’ll have to wait until today to see if he has come through without any adverse effects. But obviously it is a worry.

"He had a great game and showed great commitment to the club and he wanted to do his best as he knew it was an important game for us."

Robbie Neilson was booked after the final whistle for a challenge on Jean-Alain Boumsong, an incident which sparked a melee in front of the tunnel as both dug outs became involved.

But Levein today played down the incident, saying: "Robbie blocked Boumsong’s run and got a booking which he deserved. I think if it had been anything else other than the final whistle when people could get on the park and there was a scene I don’t think there would have been too much to worry about.

"It was in keeping with the type of game it was. Everybody wanted to win, when that happens you get tension and when you have tension you get people making decisions that are sometimes a bit rash. And that is what Robbie did."

The Hearts boss would not be drawn on his name being linked with the vacant post at Blackburn Rovers.

"There are enough things going on at the club without me adding to any more distractions," he said. "I just want to concentrate on Thursday’s UEFA Cup game which is a massive match for us."

John McGlynn was in Portugal on Saturday night to see Braga draw 1-1 at home to European champions Porto and Levein said: "By all accounts Braga could have won which shows the task in front of us."

Taken from the Scotsman