Gordon leaps to defend Simmons

HEARTS star Craig Gordon today leapt to the defence of team-mate Stephen Simmons and urged fans to give the midfielder a chance.

The 23-year-old came in for some criticism from the Gorgie faithful after struggling to make an impression in the weekend stalemate with Inverness Caley Thistle.

Simmons was handed his first league start of the season as Craig Brewster's side ended the Jambos' 100 per cent home record and the supporters weren't slow to demonstrate their feelings as the player made way for Samuel Camazzola midway through the second half.

Simmons was given his opportunity with midfield anchorman Julien Brellier, below, suspended, although boss Graham Rix later acknowledged it was a tough ask for a player who had been on the fringes of the first-team up until the weekend.

Gordon was disappointed to hear the supporters turn on his team-mate and backed the former Scotland Under-21 star to prove the doubters wrong.

"The fans have given us great support this season but there was a feeling amongst some of the guys in the dressing room after the game that they didn't get the backing they might have done," said the Tynecastle No.1.

"That can have an effect on people. I know Simmy was disappointed by the fans' reaction but he knows that's all part of being a footballer.

"He scored in the 4-0 win over Hibs at the start of the season and had waited a long time for his chance on Saturday.

"Why he was singled out by the supporters is a bit strange.

"It was difficult for him as he had to adjust to the pace of the game in the SPL in what was his first league start this season.

"He has been in the reserves a lot and it was tough for him. I'm confident he'll knuckle down and bounce back from this.

"When fans react like that it can sometimes make it hard for players to try things and instead of attempting a pass that could maybe set up a goal, they'll square it and pass the responsibility on to someone else.

"But I know he has the ability to go out and express himself."

Hearts were looking for their ninth home win on the trot at the weekend but were instead ultimately grateful for a share of the spoils against the SPL's away-day specialists as Inverness could well have taken all three points back up the A9.

Player-boss Brewster missed the best chance of the game when he scooped a shot over from close range, Robbie Neilson cleared off the line from David Proctor and Ross Tokely had a goal chalked off for offside before Neilson's late handball in the box went unpunished by referee Calum Murray.

The team was roundly booed by another capacity Tynecastle crowd at the final whistle and Gordon conceded they deserved better.

"I can understand the fans' reaction," he said. "They turn up at Tynecastle expecting us to roll over teams.

"There were a few jeers and I didn't like to hear that.

"But at the same time they are entitled to express their opinion as they pay good money to come and watch us.

"We need everybody's support and we'll be doing our best to give them something to shout about this weekend against Rangers.

"Saturday was very disappointing.

"We just didn't play and we know we can do a lot better.

"We let ourselves down. With all due respect to Inverness Caley Thistle, we should be expecting to win these matches at home."

Given the openings which the visitors offered up, the Gorgie keeper was happy enough to see Hearts edge a point further ahead of nearest rivals Hibs in the race for Champions League qualification.

"We have been doing very well at Tynecastle this season, scoring goals and creating chances," he said.

"Although we narrowly beat Livingston the previous weekend, we made lots of opportunities and could have scored a lot more.

"Against Inverness, though, we just didn't do enough to win the match and, in the end, we couldn't be too disappointed with a point as they could well have won the game with the chances they made.

"Craig Brewster in particular had a good chance and you'd normally expect him to hit the target from that range but fortunately for us he put his shot over the bar.

"They had decent opportunities and probably made more chances than any other team this season at Tynecastle.

"That is disappointing from our point of view."

He added: "The manager said afterwards that he couldn't fault us for our effort but we know we could have done more to get a result.

"We never reached the standards we have set this season and didn't pass the ball anywhere near as well as we can."

Despite remaining unbeaten after four matches in charge, Rix has also come in for criticism from the punters.

Gordon, though, insists it takes time for any new manager to stamp his style on a team.

Pointing to the indifferent form in the early days of George Burley's reign, the goalkeeper said: "It is difficult for the new boss.

"When George Burley came to the club he didn't really know the players or what his best team was.

"He didn't do too well during the pre-season but at least had time to work on things over the summer and got to know what was best for us.

"The problem for Graham Rix is that he has been thrown straight into things here. It is a difficult situation for him but we have to help him out by producing the goods on the park."

The clean sheet helped Hearts improve their impressive defensive record, Rix's side having conceded just two goals at home this season.

Gordon's pleasure at once again putting up the shutters, though, was tempered by the fact Hearts lost ground on leaders Celtic.

"It's always pleasing to keep a clean sheet but it wasn't so pleasing to give up as many chances as we did," he said.

"I'm there to make saves, though, and we defend as a team.

"It was good to keep a clean sheet but we still lost ground to Celtic at the top. The main thing from the weekend was taking the three points and we didn't manage to do that.

"In previous weeks other results have gone for us but we didn't take care of business ourselves this time."

Taken from the Scotsman