It's my happy Heart you hear Paul tells fans

HEARTS star Paul Hartley is delighted to have been proved wrong after fearing fans would turn against him when his move to Celtic fell through.

But Jambos fans, who chanted his name throughout Tuesday's CIS Insurance Cup tie against Motherwell, again singled him out for praise again against Kilmarnock.

And Hartley is more than happy to remain a Hearts player.

"You always worry, especially after what has happened in the last week or so, but the fans have been fantastic.

"The supporters have always given me their backing and they did that again.

"At the end of the day the transfer talk is done and I just have to get on with my job.

"I'm happy here at Tynecastle - I'm enjoying football, and at a good club as well."

Hearts were dumped out of the CIS Cup by a last-minute extra-time winner and were hit with a late sucker-punch again in Saturday's Tennent's Scottish Cup tie.

The Tynecastle side took the lead through Dennis Wyness, and although Colin Nish drew level for Kilmarnock, Lee Miller sent Hearts ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Just when it looked as though they would hold on for a place in the quarter-finals, Steven Naismith grabbed his first goal for Killie to earn a replay at Rugby Park.

Hartley added: "It was a good cup tie and we're disappointed to only draw.

"But we are still in the cup. We've been playing a lot of Saturday and midweek games and were hit with a late sucker-punch again.

"It's a hard one to take but we'll bounce back again."

Hearts head coach John Robertson accused referee John Rowbotham of costing his side a place in the next round, but Killie boss Jim Jefferies insists his side deserved a replay.

Jefferies said: "I'm really pleased. It wasn't the best football but cup ties are not about great football, they're about making sure you're still in the tie, and we are."

Taken from eveningtimes.co.uk