ROUSSET: MY OLD PALS CAN STILL WIN TITLE

GILLES ROUSSET has urged Hearts to go one better than the class of 98 - because they have nothing to fear from Celtic.

The French keeper watched his first game at Tynecastle in more than two years as his former club lost 3-2 to the SPL leaders in a Ne'erday cracker.

Gordon Strachan's side are now seven points clear of the Jambos - the points difference between the clubs when Hearts last came closest to landing the title six years ago.

But Rousset, now in charge of coaching keepers at the Lyon

youth academy, believes Hearts can win the club's first title in 46 years because the Hoops aren't a patch on Parkhead sides of the past.

He said: "I was really disappointed by Celtic. I don't think they played well and were lucky to win.

"The gap between the Old Firm and Hearts is even closer than when I was at Tynecastle as a player.

"Then, Celtic and Rangers had excellent sides who dominated the Scottish game but it's not the case now.

"Hearts can win the league as Celtic will drop points, especially if they keep playing as they did on Sunday.

"I played against Celtic sides who had tremendous players such as Jorge Cadete, Henrik Larsson, Paolo di Canio and Pierre van Hooijdonk.

"But we also had big characters such as David Weir, Dave McPherson, Colin Cameron and Gary Locke and a terrific team spirit under Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown.

"We liked to go forward and score goals, just like the Hearts team of today, and I believe they can make up the gap of seven points.

"That was the points total Celtic finished in front of us in 1998 and I regret we didn't have a few more players in the squad to cover the injuries we picked up late in that season."

Rousset reckons the game turned on the decision by referee Iain Brines to dismiss Takis Fyssas for his tackle on Shaun Maloney.

But he reckons the Greek was as culpable as the official for making the challenge in the first place.

Rousset said: "If the ref showed Fyssas a red card he should also have shown one to Bobo Balde in the first half.

"The tackle from the Celtic defender was even worse as it was in a more central position and Deividas Cesnauskis definitely had a chance to go on and score.

"In saying that, Fyssas should have stayed on his feet and pushed the young Celtic lad out towards the wing."

Taken from the Daily Record