ROCK BOTTOM

HEARTS keeper Craig Gordon has revealedthatteam-mate Jamie McAllister introduced the squad to Girls Aloud in a bid to ease their Tynecastle torment. Gorgie gossips would have you believe the morale of the Hearts first-team squad was on the verge of imploding after another week from hell following the sacking of Phil Anderton and resignation of George Foulkes.

Stand-in boss John McGlynn was alleged to have handed in his notice, skipper Steven Pressley was supposed to have stormed off the training field and other players were forming an orderly queue to hand in transfer demands.

It was all nonsense.But as Hearts prepare to take on Dundee United,Gordon revealed they are getting used to the goings-on at a club he has already tagged Big Brother.

He insists Hearts players will not be distracted from their goal of staying in front in the SPL but conceded there are fall-outs between big-name stars on a weekly basis.

The political fighting behind the scenes isn't getting to them - it's their choice of pre-match music that is causing the squabbles.

Gordon said: "We like to keep it fairly light-hearted in the dressing room before games and we've got our music - there are a few budding DJs in there, particularly Jamie and Andy Webster.

"They take turns about each week but it doesn't matter what they play because the rest of the boys still slaughter them for it anyway.

"Big Webby prefers the dance stuff while Jamie has been accused recently of bringing his wife's CDs into the club.

"Honestly he won't thank me for telling you but we've been forced to listen to divas such as Joss Stone and Celine Dion, as well as soul classics and more mellow stuff.

"He has even played a few girl band, definitely including Girls Aloud. Really, there havebeen some horror efforts in there but I'm afraid to admit a few of the boys actually quite like that stuff."

If many of the Hearts players have been forced to cover their ears to prevent an aural assault in recent weeks, their eyes are wide open on their achievements so far.

Gordon,22,has revealed how the first-team squad have been picking up positive vibes on the way to matches on the team bus because former boss George Burley insisted they watch a compilation video of all their best moments of the season.

It is nowupdatedonanalmostweekly basis because the Jambos' stars are adamant the off-the-field controversies will not overshadow what they have achieved this season - andwhat they still have to do.

Intrigue He added: "We've taken to watching a 20minute video of the highlights of our season, which was something introduced by George. It focuses on the strengths of the team and things we have done well in games, not just scoring goals.

"There are clips on our defence, midfield and attack played to music and it's a good motivation tool. It's a psychological boost to show the positive things we have done at the club so far this season and allows us to focus on the best parts of our game."

Gordon admits political intrigue comes with the territory as a Hearts player, so much so the players are learning to ignore the controversies as best they can.

He added: "We've been knuckling down and getting on with what we do best. We've made a decent start and we want to keep it going regardless of what is happening behind the scenes.

"We actually pay less and less attention to it because there does seem to be something happening at the club every other day.

"It's not something new but something we have had to deal with over a number of years.

"We're almost immune to all that stuff now, it seems to be part and parcel of playing for Hearts. We've dealt with it in the past and I'm sure we'll deal with it in the best way in the weeks to come as well.

"The players recognise we've got a responsibility to do well for the club. We've got ourselves into the position we occupy at the top of the table and it's up to us to keep it going.

"We've made a conscious effort to remind ourselves how we got here in the first place and that's why the videos on the bus are important.

"There has been a lot of publicity about the place and it's up to the experienced guys to pull us through - and I pretty much include myself in that group as well because of the number of years I've been here and the games I've played.

"I've seen most of the goings on at the club and it's up to us to push through it as players because I'm sure it will all be sorted out.

"Nothing surprises us at the club any more but we're fairly experienced at dealing with it andafterthe Unitedgamewehaveatwo-week break to recover. It would be nice to win todayto put a little pressure on Celtic because they're playing on Sunday and you never know what might happen." Several of Gordon's team-mates will be given an extended break over the next fortnight, in which time the club hope to appoint a successor to Burley. Gordon won't be given any extra time off because he is part of the Scotland squad that faces the USA at Hampden next weekend.But hewouldn't have it any other way.

He added: "I'm sure the players who will be going off on a break would bite your hand off to be part of the international set-up.

"I want to play as many games as I can for mycountry,somissingoutonafew extra days off doesn't bother me. "Besides I'm sitting on unlucky 13 caps - I wouldn't mind the chance to play at some point next week at Hampden to get myself off that number

THE

TEAM SHEET

HEARTS v DUNDEE

HEARTS' Paul Hartley is back from a hamstring injury but Edgaras Jankauskas is suspended following his dismissal in the defeat at Hibs last weekend.

United welcome back David Fernandez and David McCracken after leg strains. Lee Mair is still sidelined with a knee ligament injury.

Last season: United 2; Hearts 1; Hearts 3; United 2; United 1, Hearts 1

Last five league matches: Hearts DDWWL

Dundee Utd DDWLL Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1 Referee: C Thomson

Taken from the Daily Record