All's well that ends well

HEARTS supporters would be forgiven for heaving a sigh of trepidation as they take their seats at Tynecastle tomorrow, and it would have nothing to do with any lingering deflation from last week's defeat by Aberdeen. Motherwell will arrive in the Capital boasting a record in Gorgie that few in Scotland can match, losing only twice in the last three years amongst surroundings that are becoming ever more favoured by manager Terry Butcher. Many clubs travel to Hearts in relative awe of the intimidating environment that is Tynecastle.

Tight pitch, a hostile home support and little opportunity to catch breath are all disadvantages for visitors against a side whose trademark has become going for the throat during pulsating opening stages of games.

Motherwell, as recent results prove, are the exception to the rule, but emanating from Hearts' training ground at Riccarton this week has been the definitive aura of a fresh start.

Team selection issues have been publicly put to bed and head coach Graham Rix has been strutting with a spring in his step once again as a consequence of his good mate Jim Duffy being promoted to director of football at the start of the week.

Down in the dressing-room, the mood has been irrefutably confident without verging on the complacent.

The Hearts players are acutely aware that trying to predict each day at their club is an impossibility as owner Vladimir Romanov leads them on a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster ride, but they sense that a respite from the recent turmoil may now have arrived.

"I think Hearts this season has been the biggest, highest rollercoaster in the world," says goalkeeper Craig Gordon. "If you can handle what we've been through then I'd say you can handle just about anything at any other club in your career. A lot of the boys, including myself, have learned a lot along the way.

"Hopefully we can use that experience for the remainder of this season and next year as well because I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

"Last week was difficult but the boys are really motivated and that has shown in training. We want to be up challenging for trophies and these are the things you have to go through.

"The spotlight is on you when you are up near the top of the league challenging for honours. It's going to lift the profile at the club and that's something we have to deal with. I'm sure the experience of this season will stand us in good stead."

Tomorrow, Gordon is hoping certain experiences from last season can serve his side equally well. Recalling the emotions triggered by five meetings with Motherwell that brought Hearts one draw and four defeats would be a timely reminder that the potential for another slip-up is staring them in the face.

"You don't want to dwell on our record against Motherwell last season for too long, although it was annoying at the time. We have a big game and we need to get three points. We have beaten them already at Tynecastle this season and I think, if we can match Motherwell's workrate, we might have the edge in quality." The previous victory arrived at the end of August by virtue of a 2-1 scoreline with goals from Rudi Skacel and Edgaras Jankauskas, so perhaps it is fitting that the latter is preparing for his first-team return at some stage tomorrow afternoon after five weeks out with hamstring damage.

In a 45-minute cameo appearance for the reserves in midweek, the mountainous Lithuanian displayed a sharpness of the mind if not of the body during several clever touches and moves against Aberdeen's second string at Forthbank Stadium. Rix, who watched the 1-1 draw from the stand, has now decreed that it is time to reintroduce one of his central characters and has named Jankauskas in his 18-man squad.

Gordon observed: "He is a big player for us. Calum Elliot has done fantastically well in Edgar's absence and scored a few goals during his run in the team, so I think it's going to be difficult for the manager to select his starting strikers tomorrow because Michal [Pospisil] has also been scoring recently.

"The competition with Edgar and Roman Bednar coming back into consideration can give us a big push for the rest of the season. Roman has come back into full training and been playing our bounce games. He looks fantastic for having been out such a long time.

"He will struggle with match fitness, for obvious reasons, and I'm sure he'll be playing a reserve game or two before he's in contention to start for us, but this Saturday it's not out of the question for him to make the bench.

"That has given us all a lift. Roman has undoubted quality which we have already seen this season and he has an eye for goal too. He can be a big presence up front."

Two steps forward are tempered by one step back for Rix, who will be minus the drive and influence of Paul Hartley against Motherwell. The midfielder is suspended, but if nothing else the number of players Romanov furnished Hearts with last month has left them able to properly compensate no matter the emergency.

"Lee Johnson can fill that role and he is a really competitive wee player who is good going forward," noted Gordon.

"He can do a similar job for us. Paul is the star man, he's scored a lot of goals for us over the last two years, but if Lee comes in he is more than capable of filling Paul Hartley's role."

How effectively he does so could have a significant bearing on Hearts' title assault, which has now entered the make-or-break category. A 13-point chasm between the Edinburgh club and Celtic appears a difficult hill to climb, but no-one at Tynecastle is willing to overlook the progress made on the field this season and start assuming an attitude of greed.

Gordon summed up the squad's outlook. "It's difficult for us to catch Celtic now. We are 13 points behind and they would have to slip up pretty badly, but we won't rule it out. We have always been looking for Champions League football this season, whether that be through first or second place in the league."

Motherwell are the immediate opponents to Hearts' stated intentions. As long as the Tynecastle rollercoaster can stop dipping and swerving, victory could initiate a welcome period of stability for the club.

Taken from the Scotsman