Rudi: Bring on the Gers

GOAL-A-GAME Hearts star Rudi Skacel helped the Jambos secure their seventh win on the trot against Inverness Caley Thistle then roared: Bring on Rangers!

The Czech Republic internationalist struck in the first half on Saturday to give his side a 1-0 triumph in the Highlands and set up a mouth-watering showdown with the champions at Tynecastle this weekend.

The trip north saw the rampant Gorgie outfit maintain their magnificent start to the season, Skacel's latest strike enough to chalk up a seventh straight win in the league.

Flying high at the top of the table five points clear of Celtic after their narrow victory over Hibs at Easter Road yesterday, George Burley's side will welcome the Ibrox outfit to Gorgie with the opportunity to blast open a daunting 11-point gap over their visitors.

"Saturday was a very difficult game for us and we needed a bit of luck but we took the three points in the end," said Skacel, who has become a firm fans favourite since joining on a year's loan from Marseille in the summer.

"That sets us up nicely for this weekend when we have Rangers at home and that is a big game for us."

The Czech star hopes his side can make the most of home advantage as they bid to record an eighth successive victory, adding: "It is important for us that the game is at Tynecastle. The supporters have been great to us this season and hopefully we can get another victory for them."

Burley was full of praise for Skacel after his goal-grabbing exploits. He said: "It is an absolutely amazing feat for a midfielder to score in every game.

"It's fantastic and I'm very pleased for him. He is a great character both on and off the field and he has an infectious enthusiasm for the game. He loves to train and wants to express himself out on the park. He can play at left-back as he did with Panathinaikos last season, but he likes to get forward and score goals and enjoys doing that."

Before getting down to plotting the downfall of the champions, Burley has a CIS Cup third-round clash against Livingston to think about.

Hearts make the trip to West Lothian on Wednesday night and the Jambos boss could be forced into changes with players nursing a number of knocks after Saturday.

Greek star Takis Fyssas was forced out of the action in the second half after taking a blow to his knee, and Burley said: "We don't think it's too serious, but there is a big game against Rangers on Saturday."

Hearts, meanwhile, have named Alasdair Russell as their new Commercial Director. Russell was previously head of marketing at the Scottish Rugby Union.

Taken from the Scotsman