Burley: we came here with no fear

By Michael Grant

GEORGE Burley saluted his Hearts team last night after they kept their SPL lead with a draw at Parkhead in their first league visit to Glasgow this season.

Hearts extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches, remaining three points clear of Celtic – and 10 ahead of defending champions Rangers – with a 1-1 draw. Rudi Skacel’s eighth SPL goal equalised Craig Beattie’s opener. The Czech midfielder was booked for leaving the pitch during his celebration, the fourth time he has been cautioned for that offence this season, but Burley said the decision was “ridiculous”.

Burley was effusive about his team: “No-one could have envisaged that after 10 games we would be unbeaten at the top of the league. You never know what is around the corner. If you get one or two injuries, who knows? But most clubs will be looking to add to their squad in January and we won’t be any different.

“ We have shown character in abundance this season and today when we conceded the goal our heads didn’t drop and we didn’t panic. We came here with no fear. We knew our shape had to be right because Celtic have clever midfield players. But we were able to nullify that.”

Burley attacked assistant referee Tom Murphy for signalling to referee Dougie McDonald from 50 yards away that Skacel had strayed over the touchline. “The ref was a yard away and didn’t book him. How can the linesman see something from the half-way line? I think he must have had one stud off the pitch. It was a ridiculous decision.”

Former German inter national striker Fredi Bobic will arrive on trial at Tynecastle this week with a view to a perm anent contract. Bobic, who has played for Hertha Berlin and Bolton, is currently unattached so Hearts could sign him now .

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan praised the visitors . “My impression of Hearts hasn’t changed. The players they have had for a while do very well for them, and with the finances they have they have added players who make them a formidable challenge . Everybody in football takes them seriously.”

A misunderstanding between Artur Boruc and Paul Telfer allowed Skacel in to score. “It needed a bit of genius or a mistake to win it, and their goal was our mistake,” said Strachan. “The goal didn’t seem right to me but we won’t have any inquest just now. If it was an honest mistake, there’s nothing I can do about it. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was.”

16 October 2005

Taken from the Sunday Herald