JULIEN LENNON
Webster: French star Brellier as vital to Hearts as Neil is to Celtic
By Anthony Haggerty
ANDY WEBSTER last night hailed Frenchman Julien Brellier as Hearts' answer to Celtic star Neil Lennon.
The Scotland defender reckons unsung hero Brellier is one of the driving forces behind Hearts' success this season, performing as vital a role for the Jambos as Lennon does for the Parkhead men.
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov questioned the judgment of George Burley when the former manager brought the one-time Inter Milan midfielder to Edinburgh on a year-long loan from Venezia.
But Brellier has proved to be a big hit with the Gorgie faithful and Webster admits Hearts will miss their suspended star in today's Tynecastle clash with Inverness Caley Thistle.
Webster said: "Julien has done a great job since he came here. I think his role is very similar to the one Neil Lennon performs at Celtic.
"A lot of what Julien does out on the park goes unnoticed.
"From a defensive point of view we fully appreciate his role in the team. He is great to have in our line-up and we value highly what he contributes to the side.
"Julien is an unsung hero. He does the unglamorous aspects of the game by breaking up attacks and preventing the ball from even reaching the defence. And he helps start attacking moves himself by doing that.
"There's a lot of glory in scoring goals but the defensive part of Julien's game is very strong. We're going to miss him against Caley Thistle, that's for sure.
Webster even joked that Brellier has overcome the language barrier by picking up a neat turn of phrase in Scottish swear words."
Webster said: "The foreign boys have adapted very well. Most of them speak a lot of English.
"The rest of the guys appreciate the fact that the foreigners have all made an effort to adapt to the Scottish culture.
"Julien even has a nice turn of phrase in theswear-worddepartment but I didn't teach him any as I don't curse."
Hearts put their 100 per cent SPL home record on the line against Caley Thistle today and Webster said: "We have a great record at Tynecastle and there has to be a respect for that from other sides.
"We've lost just two goals at home all season and we jealously guard that. We've defended well and scored goals at the other end.
"It's a nice run to be having and we want that to continue. It is something that is always in the back of your mind.
"Players pride themselves on these records and as a defender I pride myself on keeping clean sheets.
"Sometimes though you have to give credit to other teams in the SPL as there are a lot of decent sides. We're not dismissive of anyone. We respect every team.
"Caley Thistle have done extremely well since they came up to the top flight and Craig Brewster has done a fantastic job with them.
"They are a very well-organised team and they go about their busines properly.
"They're a solid unit and we'll have to be wary of the threat they pose."
Head coach Graham Rix was relieved to register his first victory in three matches in charge last week in against Livingston. And he reckons the home crowd can roar them on to back-to-back SPL victories Rix said: "I was delighted to get my first win. I certainly needed it and the lads needed it after the two tough away draws at Aberdeen and Motherwell.
"Hopefully the game against Caley Thistle will be played at a high tempo andwe get the correct result.
"I've analysed the last few games and I'm seeing a marked improvement.It's little things I'm asking them to do.
"They're thinking about their game a lot more and responding very well - and I have the statistics to prove it.
"We have to keep that going as I sow little seeds in their heads in order to maintain our challenge at the top.
"We want to win every game and the fans have been brilliant for us.
"It's another sell-out and there will be a great atmosphere so we have to use that to our advantage.
"We have to make it really difficult forteamstocometo Tynecastleonthe pitch as well as from the support that wegetandthefansarecertainlydoing that
Taken from the Daily Record
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