Robbo wants action replay

Hearts boss to continue attacking policy against Rangers

HEARTS boss John Robertson today urged his Euro heroes to produce an action replay against Rangers at Ibrox tomorrow.

The Jambos brushed aside UEFA Cup opponents Basel with a storming performance in the Stadion St Jakob Park on Thursday night - and Robbo has demanded more of the same in Govan.

The Gorgie chief admitted he took a gamble in fielding an adventurous formation in Switzerland, a tactic which paid handsome dividends with a 2-1 win which keeps Hearts’ Group A aspirations very much alive.

Tomorrow’s SPL clash represents a completely different challenge but Robertson has vowed not to abandon his attacking philosophy as he looks to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing loss to Motherwell at Tynecastle. He said: "I took what I thought was a necessary risk against Basel on Thursday as I knew we needed the three points."

"We worked out a formation which allowed us to get men forward when we had the ball but due to the quality of Basel we also had to defend well and we did.

"We had a few chances last night and it is a tough place to go and win," he added.

"You just have to look at the teams who have failed to win there as a measure of how good a result it was for us.

"It was a great result but we have to move on now as there is an even bigger game waiting for us tomorrow."

Hearts will be boosted by the return from suspension of Paul Hartley and Patrick Kisnorbo, although Alan Maybury begins a three-match ban and Kevin McKenna is out with the knee injury which sidelined him in Basel.

"We will have to freshen the team up," said Robertson, "but whoever plays I want to see the same passion and belief which I saw in Basel. I have never sent out a team for a draw in my life as I believe you have to go forward and try to win games. That is the way it is. Getting the ball down, passing it and attacking the opposition when you get the chance is the way to play the game. Sometimes it’s difficult coming back from tiring European games and playing a match watched by just 5000 fans but tomorrow Ibrox will be packed and the players’ concentration will be back on right away. In that respect it is the ideal game for us to come back to, although it will be tough. But when you set the standards at this club the big games keep coming thick and fast."

Taken from the Scotsman