Home fans can fix win for Rix

HEARTS are hoping to make the most of home comforts tomorrow as they bid to give Graham Rix his first win as manager.

The former England and Arsenal midfielder has had to endure a demanding introduction to life in the SPL, two tough away games at Aberdeen and Motherwell forming a harsh baptism for the recently appointed head coach.

The games at Pittodrie and Fir Park saw the Jambos perform well below par, with Rix (pictured below right) relieved to come away with a point from each venue after insipid first-half displays.

Uncharacteristically, a feature of both games was slow starts with only a marked improvement after the interval salvaging anything. A warm welcome will no doubt greet Rix as he takes his place in the home dug out for the first time and defender Takis Fyssas insists the fans can help shake the lethargy from the men in maroon.

"The two difficult away games for the manager's first two matches in charge wasn't an easy start for him," said the Greek. "We are proud of the way we came back in the second half of each game but we didn't start them so well and that is what we have been looking at this week.

"That is something we have to improve on. We are at home to Livingston tomorrow and I am sure if the fans give us the power we will get it right from kick-off.

"The atmosphere they generate is fantastic and I just wish I could play all my games there!"

Far from being downbeat at seeing four points go abegging in their last two outings, Fyssas insisted the players can take heart from their revivals against the Dons and Well. And with Inverness Caley Thistle the visitors to Gorgie a week tomorrow, the Euro 2004 winner has urged his team-mates to ensure a maximum return to keep the pressure on Celtic at the top of the league.

"It is normal to lose points in such fixtures but we have to try to take as many as we can in the weeks ahead," said the experienced left-back who was among the senior players consulted this week by Rix as he pored over what went wrong in his opening two games at the helm.

"The boss spoke with most of the players this week which I think is a good idea," said Fyssas.

"We all want to make Hearts better and become the No.1 team in Scotland.

"I think it is a positive thing that we took two points from these matches as we could have come away with nothing.

"We didn't get as much as we could have but we now have two home games and must look to take six points from them.

"The manager is desperate to do well for Hearts and so are we. This is an important game for him as well as it is his first one at home since he took the job. We also want to win tomorrow to bring happiness to the people and if they are happy, then so are we."

Paul Lambert's Lions may be propping up the SPL with just one victory from their 16 games this season but Fyssas knows that events at Parkhead last Saturday will ensure the hosts are totally focused on the mission in front of them.

While Hearts were thankful for the last-minute penalty from Paul Hartley to rescue a point against Motherwell, Gordon Strachan's side were crashing to a shock loss at the hands of Dunfermline.

And while initially disappointed at the share of the spoils in Lanarkshire, the draw actually saw Rix's outfit inch closer to the league-leading Hoops.

The Jambos now trail the Glasgow giants by a solitary point and are in no mood to let that gap widen again.

"We are still there right behind Celtic and one or two points is nothing," said former Panathinaikos and Benfica defender Fyssas.

"Admittedly we haven't played well in our last two games but starting tomorrow we have the opportunity to get back to something like the form we are used to.

"We have to press Livingston from the start of the game if we are to get the result we want.

"Nobody expected Dunfermline to beat Celtic last weekend and we face a similar scenario tomorrow. These are the games in which you have to take most care. People looking at the league positions may think it is going to be easy for us but we know that is not going to be the case."

Team-mate Robbie Neilson, meanwhile, is hoping for a double celebration tomorrow after being included in the Scotland Future Squad for Tuesday's Future Cup showdown with Poland at Rugby Park.

The 25-year-old is the club's longest serving player having joined in 1996 and he was delighted to hear Scotland boss Walter Smith had been impressed with his performances this season.

"It's always nice to be recognised. I've been here a long time and hopefully I can do well if I get the chance on Tuesday," said the former Under-21 star.

Of more immediate concern to the right-back is tomorrow's visit of Livingston and Neilson insisted today that all thoughts of international honours will be put to the side as the Jambos look to get back to winning ways against the West Lothian outfit.

"It's nice to be in the squad but Hearts is my priority and I won't be thinking about that game at all when I take to the field tomorrow.

"This is the first of two home games in a row and we have to make the most of them.

"If we can get two wins it would set us up nicely for the trip Ibrox.

"Going to Pittodrie and Motherwell are probably two of the hardest places to go to outwith Ibrox or Parkhead.

"It was just unfortunate that they were the gaffer's first matches as manager but we showed great spirit in them to come back from a goal down and a draw in each game wasn't the worst.

"We'll be looking to take the game to Livingston from the start tomorrow and if we can play the way we can, we'll be confident of getting the three points and a first win for the boss."

Taken from the Scotsman