Rix: No fear

HEARTS boss Graham Rix today cranked up the heat ahead of tomorrow's Tynecastle showdown with Celtic, warning the league leaders: "We don't fear you."

The Glasgow giants will be first footers in Gorgie tomorrow afternoon as they look to stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points.

However, the Jambos go into battle knowing that a home victory will see the Hoops' lead at the summit of the SPL slashed to just one point.

Going into the sell-out clash on the back of a five-goal thrashing of Falkirk on Boxing Day, Rix is looking for a repeat of the swashbuckling first-half performance which swept the Bairns aside.

"Celtic are a good side and I'm sure they will be fired up," said Rix. "We respect them as we do every opponent but we certainly don't fear them, that's for sure.

"We are all looking forward to the game and the guys are raring to go. There was a great tempo about training yesterday and we'll be looking to keep that going against Celtic.

"Earlier this season we were renowned for fast starts and that's what we have to do. The first thing we do in a match, whether it be a tackle, a sprint or a throw-in or a pass, if you do it well it sets the tempo for the rest of the game."

The former Portsmouth boss wouldn't be drawn on the implications of losing tomorrow's game, insisting that as long as his team performs well he will be happy.

"We want to push Celtic as far as we can in the league this season," said Rix.

"I'm not going to get into what might happen and what might not happen. If we win the game great, if we lose the match but play well then great, although it would be disappointing. You can't win every game in football."

Despite being confident that Roman Bednar would be available, Rix has now indicated the Czech front man is more likely to sit out tomorrow's match, while there is a major doubt over Saulius Mikoliunas.

The Lithuanian is now free of suspension having served his automatic one-match ban following his sending-off against Rangers at Ibrox but is toiling after twisting an ankle in training on Thursday.

The indications are that Rix will once again pin his faith in the striking partership of Edgaras Jankauskas and teenager Calum Elliot, who was today celebrating a new three-and-a-half-year contract.

The youngster grabbed his first goals for the club with a double strike against Falkirk and rounded off a dream week with a new deal which will keep him at Tynecastle until the summer of 2009.

"Calum's got ability, there's no doubt about that, but he also has an attitude and a determination to do well," said Rix. "He's a smashing lad and he's probably been one of our most consistent players since I've been here.

"It speaks volumes for the lad that the first team players like him and trust him. The deal was already on the cards and it was just a case of thrashing out the details."

Celtic star John Hartson, meanwhile, has laughed off suggestions that tomorrow's match could determine the destination of the league title.

The Welsh internationalist knows Hearts are the real deal this season but has refused to write off the challenge from Tony Mowbray's Hibs side.

"There is no way this is a title decider," he said. "We still have about 20 games to go, so it's farcical to say that. Hibs are in contention as well and maybe Kilmarnock if they put a good run together.

"But, being realistic, I would say Hearts and Hibs are our two biggest rivals and I don't think anyone would disagree with that. I think Hearts have surprised everybody, not only with the way they started, but the way they have sustained it."

Taken from the Scotsman