Fortress Tynecastle crucial in rise to the top

EWAN MURRAY

AS Hearts look to cement an unbeaten start to their SPL campaign against Dunfermline Athletic at Tynecastle tomorrow, Steven Pressley has pointed to team harmony and the value of the famous old stadium in the club's continued quest to challenge the Old Firm.

If they avoid defeat tomorrow, Pressley and his team-mates will have gone through the entire league card without losing. Such a feat, reserved only in recent seasons for Rangers or Celtic teams, would be further testimony to the club's potential ability to wrestle the Scottish championship from Ibrox. And while the Hearts captain is not yet openly confident of a title triumph, the significance of an undefeated opening spell has not gone un-noticed amongst George Burley's squad.

"It would be a fantastic achievement if we continue our unbeaten start against Dunfermline, and I don't think anyone in their wildest dreams would have thought we would go on this run when we were struggling to build a squad just weeks before the season started," said Pressley yesterday.

"Now we can't wait for the next match to come along and that's generally the feeling within our dressing-room at this moment in time."

Speaking at Tynecastle on the day that the book Hearts: Great Tynecastle Tales was launched, the Scotland international also pointed to the value of a home ground which has formed the basis for such an impressive run.

While Pressley never meddled in the political affairs of the last two years which, at one stage, looked as if they would culminate in the stadium's demolition, he is clearly glad that stability as been restored and the club has resolved to stay at its historic home.

He added: "During Craig Levein's time in charge we had an extremely good home record, and if you look at seasons when the Old Firm have won the league, they dropped very few points at home. If we can pride ourselves on that kind of consistency, then we have a chance of sustaining a challenge.

"Playing in front of a full Tynecastle generates a fantastic atmosphere and there's no doubt that has improved the performance of the team. The supporters have had to endure a lot over the past two or three years, and it would be fantastic if we, as players, could return their loyalty with some sort of silverware."

The closest Hearts have come to the Scottish title in recent times, during season 1985/86, came in the middle of a spell in which they were unbeaten at Tynecastle on league business for 19 months. While it would be eminently premature to consider such a run possible at this stage, Pressley believes there are plenty reasons for optimism as the club enter a vital seven days.

After Dunfermline's visit, Kilmarnock travel to Edinburgh on SPL business on Wednesday evening before the much-anticipated second capital city derby of the season at Easter Road tomorrow week.

"I said last season that I thought we had the basis of a very good team, but the foreign players who have been brought in have given us what we lacked at times," said Pressley.

"We relied a lot back then on Paul Hartley's goals, but now the onus on him scoring week in, week out, has been taken away and we have players scoring from all over the park. That has made a big difference.

"Also, when we have a support like we have at the moment, following us home and away, it helps to motivate us. Sometimes when you bring in foreign players, there can be problems such as the language barrier, but that hasn't been the case. All the players get on extremely well and that's been reflected in our performances.

"You often hear about teams taking time to gel, but, crucially, we seem to have gelled very quickly and as a dressing-room we pride ourselves on making newcomers very welcome.

"We have been out for a few meals together, the manager took us all to the horse racing, and we've had a few tennis tournaments which unfortunately the Czech players are incredibly good at!"

Wallace Mercer, club chairman during that ultimately ill-fated campaign two decades ago, agrees that there is plenty of cause for optimism and belief in the class of 2005. Disputing that Vladimir Romanov's wealth has been the defining factor in the Hearts' rise to prominence, he said: "As well as money, what you need to have at any club is unanimity and spirit.

"It was evident at Parkhead on Saturday that Hearts have fantastic spirit. We had that years ago under Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine, despite not having the most money in the league, and gave the cage a good rattle as a result."

• Hearts: Great Tynecastle Tales by Rob Robertson and Paul Kiddie (Mainstream, £15.99).

Taken from the Scotsman