Gilles to paint town maroon

FORMER Hearts star Gilles Rousset is heading back to the Capital this weekend to participate in the city's famous New Year celebrations - and wants to toast a victory for the Jambos in their top-of-the-table showdown with Celtic.

The Gorgie goalkeeping legend will fly in from his home in France to take in Scottish band Texas' Hogmanay concert at Edinburgh Castle before preparing for an emotional return to the club he served with distinction for six years.

The Frenchman has been invited along by the club as a special guest for the sell-out clash for what will be his first visit to Gorgie in more than two years. The last time he was at Tynecastle to see the team in action he witnessed a depressing defeat to Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup. This time, though, he's hoping for a more uplifting experience as Hearts bid to slash the Hoops' lead at the top of the SPL to just one point.

Should Graham Rix's side dump the title favourites, then Rousset believes they can build up a head of steam and go all the way to the championship.

The reason for the former keeper's optimism is the fact the players have managed to stay within touching distance of the Glasgow giants in spite of all the recent off-field turmoil which threatened to derail the club's quest to secure a coveted place in the Champions League. Despite losing George Burley after an unbeaten start to the campaign and seeing chief executive Phil Anderton sacked and George Foulkes depart as chairman not long after, the first-team squad has once again demonstrated a remarkable ability to remain focused on getting results on the park.

As 2006 approaches, the Gorgie outfit is handily placed just behind Celtic at the top of the league, a position the players and fans would no doubt have readily accepted five months ago.

"I have been impressed by the way the team has been able to keep its momentum going," said Rousset.

"There has been such a lot happening with a new owner and new managers but still the results keep coming.

"Although Graham Rix [pictured below] has only been in the job a short time, I think it's been a case of so far so good and that's great news for the fans, of which I am one of course."

Things hadn't looked so bright for Rix as pressure mounted on him to reverse the team's below-par displays but the Boxing Day battering of Falkirk could prove crucial to their chances of upsetting Gordon Strachan's side, according to Rousset.

The 5-0 triumph saw Hearts back to something like their best and sets them up nicely for the Gorgie showpiece.

"I played against Graham Rix when he was in France with Caen and he was a very good footballer," said the Frenchman, who helped Hearts lift the Scottish Cup in 1998. "I don't know so much about him as a coach but he's had good experience at Chelsea. I think he needed a good win against Falkirk after losing points in recent games and the players certainly delivered the goods for him.

"That will have given everyone a huge lift and confidence won't be a problem for the game against Celtic.

"Of course, I think they can do it and nobody would be happier than me if that happened. It is a huge game for both teams. If Celtic win they will move seven points clear at the top and I think that would then make it very difficult for Hearts to close the gap. But, if we were to win, the lead would be down to just one point.

"I think Hearts already have the belief that they can win the title. If you don't have belief when you're just four points behind the leaders then you'll never have it. Winning on Sunday would just reinforce that and I think they are capable of doing it. It would be the perfect way to start the New Year and would hopefully give them the platform to go all the way in the title race."

Watching his old club sustain such an impressive challenge to Celtic this season rekindled memories of 1998 for Rousset, the year Hearts came so close to landing a glorious league and cup double. The championship flag looked as if it could be destined to fly over Tynecastle for the first time since 1960 until Jim Jefferies' outfit stumbled on approach to the finishing line. Hearts dropped no fewer than 12 points in their last six matches after a 0-0 draw against Celtic at Parkhead and eventually finished in third place, seven points adrift of the champions from Parkhead.

Although they raised their spirits to then defeat Rangers in the final of the Scottish Cup, Rousset was left to wonder what might have been had they managed to sustain their form to the bitter end.

Nothing would now please him more than to see this Hearts side succeed where the class of '98 failed. "We were very close to winning the league seven years ago," said the former keeper, who is now coaching youngsters at Lyon.

"In the end we slipped away to finish third behind Celtic and Rangers but fortunately we won the Cup that year, which was obviously the highlight of my time with Hearts.

"We had a good run of results up until the end of the season and if Hearts can get a good result on Sunday, it would be a great time in which to put together a decent run.

"We had a very good team back then and I think that was shown by the number of players who went on to play in the English Premiership. People like Gary Naysmith, David Weir, Paul Ritchie, Neil McCann and Colin Cameron.

"There was an excellent balance between experience and youth but there was also great character and spirit in the side which made us determined to win games. We were able to fight our way back into matches during difficult spells which kept us in good stead."

Rousset, who hung up his gloves when he walked out of Tynecastle for the last time as a player in 2001, added: "I think what cost us the league that season was results against the Old Firm. Had they been better we could have done it. If you don't allow the Old Firm to take points off you, you'll be very close come the end of the campaign.

"Hearts have already beaten Rangers this season and drawn at Parkhead so they should be confident about Sunday.

"We lost a bit of consistency in 1998 but this team has only lost two games so far which is brilliant and who knows what may happen if they can keep their consistency?

"They have a lot of good players at the moment and they are capable of winning against Celtic. I am looking forward to coming over for the game and can't wait to catch up with so many people I still know there.

"It's been a long time since I was at Tynecastle, two years in fact, so hopefully the wait will be worthwhile."

Taken from the Scotsman