DOOM and gloom merchants have been predicting end-of-season misery for Hearts since our derby defeat against Hibs.

I only wish they could have joined us in Edinburgh last Saturday night. As a group of players we have endured a lot this season and, disappointing as our result at Easter Road was, nothing will distract us from achieving our goals.

A major talking point after the game, result apart, was the absence of certain members of the squad from our starting line-up.

Let me say only this - our coach Valdas Ivanauskas said after the game these players were being rested. Therefore, I expect that in the three games we have left before the end of the season these guys will still have a major role to play in the success we are determined to deliver for our club. Some people made a lot of the team selection but, as I've said many, many times before, these supposed controversies do not affect the strength of our team spirit in any way, shape or form

The guys who haven't played in recent weeks have remained extremely positive in their attitude and that will not change as we bid to secure second spot in the SPL before turning our attention to the Scottish Cup Final.

I have to admit I was subjected to some harsh treatment on Saturday evening from my team-mates after turning up for a players' and wives' night out at Edinburgh restaurant 80 Queen Street.

I left the Land Rover outside, with the lurchers keeping watch over a couple of pheasants bagged earlier and hanging from the back seat as I high-tailed it into the place wearing what could only be described as a natty new shooting jacket.

It was my own choice of get-up, unfortunately, and I certainly took a fair bit of stick from the rest of the lads who might recognise stylish football, but certainly not stylish clobber.

You'd have thought Chris Eubank had just signed for Hearts going by their reaction but their unkind comments were the only low point in a night of good fun.

The resident band were excellent and the only disappointment was keen musicians Edgaras Jankauskas and Sammy Camazzola - mean guitar players by all accounts -declined to play us out at the end.

The night was organised a few weeks ago and everyone in our squad, to a man, turned up with their wives or partners.

The spirit among us was there for all to see and it was just as important for the wives and girlfriends to enjoy a night out together.

It can be especially difficult for the partners of our foreign players to settle into their new lives.

Naturally, we were disappointed after the result earlier in the day. We didn't meet the standards we've set for ourselves this season, particularly in the first half.

At 1-1 I felt there was only going to be one winner but we didn't capitalise on the chances we created and Hibs grabbed that winner near the end. They showed terrific desire and energy, as we knew they would, despite being missing some key players.

I watched the game from the back of the stand at Easter Road and took plenty of stick from Hibs fans but it was all in good spirit.

Hopefully, I won't be playing the role of spectator again on Sunday when we entertain Celtic, but my back injury is taking longer to clear than I'd hoped.

I'm desperate to play on Sunday but, if not, I'm determined to return for the visit of Aberdeen next Wednesday night.

We have four very important matches to go and if I'm not feeling right for Sunday I'd rather miss out and play the remaining three fixtures than feature in one and be forced to sit out all the others if my back goes again.

Conspiracy theories abound at the moment about forthcoming games and what results could mean for one team or another.

It's said Hibs could benefit next week from losing to Rangers, while Celtic fans will be happy to see their team fail to win at Tynecastle.

It's all absolute rubbish. In all my years in football I've never once witnessed a team that has failed to apply itself fully to winning a match.

Celtic have a squad of excellent professionals who will be coming to Tynecastle to win the game and, equally, we'll be desperate to put one over on them for the first time this season.

Furthermore, we neither want nor need favours from any rival sides as we remain confident in our own ability to finish what we started way back in July.

More than anything, all our goals and ambitions for this season remain in our own hands.

Regardless of what happens elsewhere, events at Rangers or Hibs should not affect us as long as we continue to do the business for Hearts.

We're determined to look no further than our own squad of players for everything we hope to achieve.

And we're certainly good enough to win the right to play Champions League football next season.

Taken from the Daily Record