Allan's Public Enemy No.1 - and it's magic

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS fans gave Kilmarnock star Allan Johnston pelters at the weekend - and the same treatment tomorrow will be music to ‘Magic’s’ ears.

The former Tynecastle winger was singled out as a target for abuse throughout the Tennent’s Scottish Cup clash by the home support and he admits he’s expecting more of the same when the teams go head to head again on league business in the Capital.

Not that Johnston is particularly bothered. In fact the 31-year-old seems to relish being Public Enemy No.1 in Gorgie.

"I thought it was a fair result in the cup and hopefully it will be another entertaining game for the supporters," he said.

"We were just happy to take them back to Kilmarnock for a replay but for now our attention is on tomorrow’s league game and winning the three points.

"It is always special playing against Hearts, especially for myself and a few of the other guys like Gary Locke and Gary Wales.

"We had a lot of good times there and it’s always good to go back. At the end of the day I think most ex-players get that sort of treatment from the fans but we can’t complain.

"Sometimes it’s a compliment when you get stick from the punters, I certainly look upon it like that and if they get on my back again, hopefully it means it’s because I am having a good game for Killie.

"There’s no doubt that a reaction like that spurs on opposition players. Plus the fact there is a great atmosphere guaranteed at Tynecastle and players always enjoy playing there."

Johnston played a key role in the pulsating 2-2 draw, supplying the cross for the first Killie equaliser which was finished off by Colin Nish moments after the striker had come back onto the park after receiving treatment for an injured hand.

The goal incensed John Robertson, who believed referee John Rowbotham had handed the visitors an advantage by waving the front man back on the blind side of the defence.

"To be fair I didn’t see it on television but I think there were two of our guys there or thereabouts and I just tried to put the ball into the danger area, said Johnston, who is set to lock horns again with teenager Lee Wallace.

"He looks like being another of the good youngsters coming through at Tynecastle and they look like getting their chance under Robbo.

"I’m sure he will do well there. They are playing good football and aren’t so direct. It will be another tough match and we’ve also got the small matter of the replay next week as well. These are two massive games for both teams."

Gorgie front man Lee Miller was left as despondent as the rest of his team-mates in the wake of Steve Naismith’s 90th-minute leveller on Saturday, the late blow coming just days after the Jambos’ cruel exit after extra-time at the hands of Motherwell in the CIS Cup semi-final.

The loan star’s stunning goal on the stroke of half-time appeared to have sent Hearts marching into the quarter-finals until Naismith’s dramatic intervention.

But rather than hand the Ayrshire outfit a boost ahead of the SPL meeting, Miller reckoned the setback will make the home side even more determined to prevail.

"We were disappointed not to win last weekend having created so many chances," he said.

"Hopefully tomorrow Alan Combe isn’t in as good form but at the end of the day we still have another crack at it. That late goal has been blanked out by everybody here. All that is in the past and if anything has helped give us added motivation to get the points.

"We felt hard done by after losing such a late equaliser but I think we want to prove a point tomorrow that we deserved to win the match.

"It was real kick in the teeth but we shouldn’t be in the game if we can’t cope with blows like that. They were bad blows but there is a good character in the dressing-room and we will get over them."

In-form Miller and Dennis Wyness are beginning to form a potent partnership in attack - his team-mate opened the scoring against Killie - and the former Falkirk front man is adamant there is much more to come from the pair.

He said: "I thought my all-round contribution last weekend was better than it had been.

"I am getting more match fitness and am enjoying linking up with Dennis. I knew him from his days at Inverness where he obviously did very well although I hadn’t seen much of him at Hearts before I arrived.

"He’s a very intelligent footballer, though, has a sharp brain and is a great finisher.

"It is good to have a partner who is scoring as well and I am sure the longer we play together the better we will become."

He added: "Strikers thrive on confidence and if we’re scoring goals then everything else comes naturally.

"I am settling in well. The gaffer has put a lot of faith in me by putting me straight into the team. I am pleased the way things have gone and hopefully they can continue in a positive manner."

Taken from the Scotsman