Big win at Tynie will be birthday best for Gordon

BIRTHDAY boy Craig Gordon will blow the candles out on his cake tomorrow - then set his sights on snuffing out Celtic in Sunday's SPL crunch at Tynecastle.

The Gorgie No.1 turns 23 on Hogmanay and doesn't need to think twice about what he wants for a gift this year - victory in the sell-out clash with the Glasgow giants on New Year's Day.

With the Parkhead outfit first-footing the Capital with the comfort of a four-point cushion at the top of the league, slashing that advantage to just a solitary point would be the perfect way to start 2006 for Gordon and his team-mates.

After putting the finishing touches to the game plan tomorrow at the Riccarton academy, Gordon will spend the rest of his big day relaxing in the comfort of the Jambos' favourite hotel retreat on the outskirts of the Capital.

Not for him a night out with the lads or a big family celebration to mark the occasion. But then that's something he has had to get used to ever since he started to fulfil his immense potential in the game.

"It's my birthday on Hogmanay but I'm sure it will be a quiet one," said the Scotland star.

"If we can get the three points from Celtic the following day it will be the best present I could hope for.

"Football is a big part of my life and my birthday is something I have just had to fit in around it for some time now. I might have a wee celebration afterwards if we win but the football is the most important thing for me.

"In recent times normally matches have been on January 2 so I don't think I have ever played on New Year's Day before.

"This will be a first for me. We're actually staying away the night before the game as we would for preparing for any big match. I'm sure the boys will wish each other a Happy New Year and then head straight to bed. I'll be treating it as any other day and hopefully the boys will leave me alone!"

Given the significance of the sell-out encounter, it's hard to imagine Hearts treating the visit of Gordon Strachan's Hoops as just another game, despite what their boss may say.

The rewards may be the same as in any other league match but given that defeat will see the Jambos fall seven points behind their visitors, they will be pulling out all the stops to ensure the New Year begins as brightly as possible for those of a maroon persuasion.

Sceptics had been quick to claim that Hearts had hit the skids since Rix took over the hot seat but the 5-0 triumph over Falkirk on Boxing Day has forced many to re-assess such stances.

The stunning return to form has brought confidence flooding back into the first team and Gordon was quick to highlight the role played by the club's video analysis team in their rehabilitation.

In the aftermath of the woeful display against Rangers at Ibrox, the players sat through the best moments of their unbeaten start to the campaign - which included eight straight wins under George Burley - and focused on what they had been doing so right.

As evidenced by the display against the Bairns, the plan worked wonders. With a similar tactic having been used after training yesterday as the players poured over the fine Falkirk showing, Gordon is keeping his fingers crossed Celtic keeper Artur Boruc, pictured, will be the busier come Sunday.

"We looked at a lot of the positive things about how we played in the early part of the season and what we could do to work to our strengths and how we could work as a team," he said.

"The boss went over bits and pieces of what he wanted the players to do - basically focusing on the success we had in the early part of the season was what the exercise was all about.

"It worked very well. Hopefully it can do so again as we looked in detail at the Falkirk game yesterday afternoon.

"Hopefully we have picked out even more which can help us in the match against Celtic."

The eagerly-awaited tussle is going out live across the nation on Sky TV and promises to be an intriguing encounter as the SPL's top scorers lock horns with the league's meanest defence.

A win for the visitors from the west would be a huge blow for the Jambos but Gordon, who missed the 1-1 draw at Parkhead earlier in the season, insisted it would not be a disaster.

"It will be another full house at Tynecastle and we are all looking forward to it, fans and players alike. It's a massive game for us and if we can get the gap down to just one point it would be fantastic and give the place another big lift.

"Hopefully we can put them under a little bit more pressure. Losing the game is not really an option for us at the moment as they would then have a bit of a gap over us. Having said that, it wouldn't be the end of the world as I'm sure Celtic will drop points between now and the end of the season and we're definitely going into Sunday's game looking for a win.

"All the signs are that it is going to be a cracker and hopefully the supporters will enjoy it. We have to concentrate on what we do and that means defending well and hopefully get a few goals at the other end."

He added: "Everybody was back in training yesterday and enjoying it.

"The win over Falkirk has lifted the spirit in the camp and set us up nicely for the weekend.

"This is a different type of game for us compared to the Falkirk match but you never get two games the same.

"There will be situations, for example, which crop up in each match which I will have to deal with and there's every chance I may be busier in these types of matches than some others.

"But equally that may not be the case and I have to make sure I am ready to adapt to whatever way the game is going.

"I was suspended for the last Celtic match we played at Parkhead which was really disappointing as the bigger the game the more you want to play.

"This is as big as it gets for us so far this season, it will be a real test but I'm sure we'll be right up for it, just as we were for the Falkirk game. It's the type of match we all want to be involved in and with home advantage this time, confidence is high that we can get the result that we are looking for."

Taken from the Scotsman