MORE AWAY BOSSES ARE HAVING OFF DAYS WHEN THEY FACE US

TYNECASTLE has been transformed since the arrival of Vladimir Romanov, so much so that we're considering installing escalators in the opposition dug-out.

It would make sense given the amount of opposition backroom staff being sent to the stand in our opening games this year.

Dunfermline's Craig Robertson, Celtic's Gordon Strachan and on Saturday it was Falkirk boss John Hughes who was asked to watch the match from a higher vantage point than normal.

There have been various reasons as to why the refs have taken action but it cannot be a coincidence, it's now three games in a row.

Since Mr Romanov arrived the club have gone from strength to strength and I don't doubt the bit of success we've had has come at a price.

Every team we meet are now more fired up and determined to put one over us than maybe they were before the owner arrived.

When we started to spend money on new players and challenged for the title I have noticed a greater intensity among opposition coaches and managers and that's something we will have to live with.

There can be a danger some people will think we're big time and have put ourselves in a position to be shot down.

But since our opening game against the Pars there is no doubt the backroom members of the sides we're playing have been that wee bit more on edge.

Teams are that bit more desperate to beat us and that shows we must be doing something right. It's another big challenge for us this weekend when we play Rangers.

We have been chapping on the door to show we are capable of matching the Old Firm sides in our ambitions to win the title.

Saturday gives us another chance to put down a marker against Rangers and if we can win the game then it would be a massive boost given we've already beaten Celtic.

Ibrox is a venue we're determined to produce a performance at as we haven't done ourselves justice there in recent times.

We've been getting the performances at Parkhead as we proved last season, even though they b eat us 1 -0 there to win the title.

The Rangers players are still adjusting to having a new manager in Paul Le Guen so we may be playing them at the right time.

I know they haven't been firing on all cylinders in their last two games against Dundee United and Dunfermline so the fans may be a bit restless.

Many people may feel we should be winning games like Saturday's against Falkirk and maybe they have a point but these are tough matches.

Yogi and Brian Rice have built a strong side and all the teams in the SPL are getting stronger.

Afew seasons ago people would have expected Celtic to knock three or four goals past St Mirren but Saturday's 2-0 scoreline underlines my point.

After a few months the league table splits into three with teams struggling at the bottom, mid-table teams settle down and the top tier go for the championship but at the moment no sides are slipping up.

I have read in the papers that the club are prepared to loan out our young striker Calum Elliot and whoever lands the kid's services will be getting a fantastic player.

He played 30 times for Hearts last season and has a big future but we have an abundance of forwards so maybe a regular game would be a benefit to him.

There is also a school of thought that says he can do us a favour by scoring against Celtic and Rangers for whoever he may join so maybe there's method in our madness.

Taken from the Daily Record