DON'T BLOW IT LIKE CELTIC DID

PAUL HARTLEY last night warned his Hearts team-mates to strap themselves in for the ride of a lifetime as they face up to four massive games.

The Jambos are just four matches away from cementing second spot in the SPL and pipping Rangers to qualify for the Champions League.

But although the Tynecastle club are in pole position, having gone five points clear of Alex McLeish's side, he needs no reminder that Celtic blew the championship last season after holding a similar points advantage at the same stage of the campaign.

Now Hartley is desperate to ensure his side do not become the victims of a Hoops-style collapse as the winning post approaches.

But in response to noises emanating from the Rangers camp that the Jambos will bottle it, he insists they can cope with the demands placed on them.

As he prepared for Saturday's derby clash with Hibs, he said: "The pressure is all on us to retain that second spot and Rangers might be indulging in some mind games.

"We are not used to being in this position and it is all down to how we handle it until the end of the season.

"We know what happened in the title race last season as Celtic were five clear with four games to go and everybody said they had won the league.

"It's just about taking each game as it comes but we are playing very well just now, we are a confident bunch and we know we can score goals.

"We know anything can happen and it might come down to the last game of the season with Rangers. Hopefully it won't.

"We have a good cushion of five points and it is just important that we keep picking up three points."

After travelling to Easter Road on Saturday, Hearts host Celtic then Aberdeen before finishing the campaign at Ibrox.

Hartley added: "The next four games are just so vital for this club. They are going to be the biggest games of our lives.

"We just have to maintain it. The carrot of Champions League football is there and that is the reason Mr Romanov put so much money into the club.

"It is the stage everybody wants to be on and it would mean a lot for this group of guys to achieve that level of competition.

"We have had a decent season so far and we have a Scottish Cup Final to look forward to but if we could achieve Champions League football that would be fantastic.

"There is no guarantee we would qualify for the Champions League proper, as look what happened to Celtic last season, but hopefully by clinching second place we would give ourselves a chance.

"If we finish second in the table then we will have deserved it."

The Scotland midfielder is acutely aware we are entering the time of the season when mass hysteria can take over from reality - especially in the stands.

And he stressed that a draw would not be the worst result in the world for the Jambos against a Hibs side still smarting from their 4-0 Scottish Cup semi-final drubbing at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Hartley, who has been hailed by Hearts fans after bagging a hat-trick in that match, said: "The last four games of the season will be tense affairs and the players got a taste of that last Saturday against Kilmarnock at Tynecastle

"We could hear the news filter through to the stands that Aberdeen were supposedly winning 2-1 at Ibrox. We heard the roar and the players maybe thought Aberdeen were winning but we have to maintain our concentration levels and focus on winning the next four games, or at least picking up points.

"That's why a point against Hibs on Saturday might not necessarily be a disaster - although we will be looking to claim all three.

"Hibs will want revenge and try to prevent us finishing in second place.

"We have won three of the derby matches convincingly this season but lost disappointingly at Easter Road.

"So we know what to expect and Hibs will have a lot to prove to their fans and themselves."

Hartley is trying to play down the supporters' reaction to his cup treble.

He said: "Our fans have been fantastic with me but we've only won a semi-final so we have to complete the job by winning the Scottish Cup Final.

"If the hat-trick had been against any other team it might have been different.

"It is because I scored it against Hibs that they have treated me differently. I remember the same thing happened to Mark de Vries when he scored four goals against Hibs.

"It was fantastic to score a hat-trick but it was just another game."

And Hartley made it clear the derby fixture is one they can handle.

Club owner Vladimir Romanov has claimed he will not be attending Saturday's derby fixture because he believes Hibs will kick their rivals off the park.

But Hartley reckons they can look after themselves.

He said: "I think we have had the most players sent off in the league this season and the most fouls. This is a derby match and things like that happen.

"Teams dish it out but we can take it as well as give it out."

It is 20 years since Alex MacDonald's Hearts side blew a league and Scottish Cup double within the space of seven days and Hartley is praying that same fate does not befall the class of 2006.

He said: "Everybody knows what happened to Hearts in 1986.

"But while this team will not win the league, they will never have a better chance of achieving success."

Taken from the Daily Record