Berra keen to keep place for Jambos

Christophe Berra has put pressure on interim Hearts boss Valdas Ivanauskas to keep him in the starting XI for next weekend's trip to Hibernian.

The 21-year-old stopper has been back-up to captain Steven Pressley and Andy Webster for the last couple of seasons, appearing when either of the Scotland defenders have been unavailable through injury or suspension.

Pressley missed Saturday's SPL match against Kilmarnock with a back injury but Berra was preferred to Webster who, after being on the bench last week against Dunfermline, was left out of the squad altogether.

For the second week in a row Ivanauskas claimed the former Arbroath player had been rested and Berra was teamed up alongside Jose Goncalves and then substitute Ibrahim Tall who came on when the Portuguese defender picked up a knock in the first half.

Berra capped a fine afternoon by scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win which guarantees UEFA Cup football at least next season at Tynecastle.

Pressley will be fit for next week and Webster will be, presumably, fully rested but the Scotland under-21 player hopes he has left the Lithuanian with a decision to make for the trip to Easter Road.

He said: "I thought Webster would have been playing but he wasn't so I just took my chance and hopefully the manager and everyone who was watching was impressed.

"In the last two games I've played, against Celtic at Parkhead and against Killie, I've done well.

"Hopefully I've played myself into contention for the Hibs game. I know I've not done myself any harm and I might get a starting berth.

"If not I'll be happy with sitting on the bench but as I say I played well and hopefully the manager was impressed."

The second-placed Jambos are now five points ahead of Rangers in the chase for a Champions League spot but Berra knows three points against their city rivals, who they hammered 4-0 in the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final at the start of the month, are not guaranteed.

He said: "We are five points ahead but we still have four difficult games, especially Hibs next week.

"They are going to be up for it especially after we beat them in the cup.

"It's going to be a hard game but we've got to concentrate on each game as it comes and try to get three points next week."

Despite the defeat, Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was happy enough with his side's performance against his former club.

He said: "Hearts are probably going to go on and win the cup and get into the Champions League.

"They are formidable opponents at home but we weathered the opening period which was our plan.

"It took a really special goal from Paul Hartley to get them in front and you could see their relief.

"They never looked like scoring in the second half and it looked like if there was going to be another goal then it was going to come from us on the break.

"But then they got a lucky break again for Berra to score near the end.

"However, if my players give me that effort between now and the end of the season then I'll be happy. They fought for everything and worked their socks off."