We Berra make drama a crisis

TURMOIL seems to have been reserved exclusively for Tynecastle throughout the past 18 months, so it is little wonder that in the build-up to the season's first Edinburgh derby the Hearts players are content to see their city rivals steal a touch of the controversy.

Whether Tony Mowbray's impending defection to West Bromwich Albion has a destabilising effect on those he leaves behind at Easter Road will be revealed in Sunday's confrontation with Hearts. There can be few worse junctures at which to lose your manager than the week preceding a clash with your city rivals, as those in Gorgie know only too well.

The announcement of George Burley's surprise sacking by Vladimir Romanov came almost exactly a year ago, just seven days before Hearts were due at Easter Road where they would lose their unbeaten league record in a 2-0 defeat. In the intervening period Graham Rix has been appointed and dismissed, and Valdas Ivanauskas has taken over whilst several changes have been implemented in the boardroom and behind the scenes.

Now, it's almost entirely different. The tables have turned, or at least they have been rotated slightly by Mowbray's desire to change his employer. As the inhabitants of Leith have been stirred into a frenzy this week with derby day edging ever closer, Tynecastle has stayed welcomely tranquil. Not a crisis or drama in sight, in fact completely the opposite as Ivanauskas leads his players in to Sunday's game inspired by the feel-good factor after four victories from their previous five games and one goal conceded.

Perhaps a call across the city could provide some pertinent advice for the Hibs players as they ponder how to combat the absence of the influential Mowbray from their dressing-room.

"We've been in that situation many a time and we've dealt with it," says Christophe Berra. "I think Hibs are big enough and professional enough to do the same. It is a bit unsettling but their main objective is to go out and beat us no matter who is in charge.

"Despite the speculation I expect all of their players to be professional about it. They will just be concentrating on the game no matter what happens. It's a derby game and the tackles will be flying in as always. From our point of view, we need to win our battles first before we can start playing football. We're not going there to lie down, we turn up to win."

Much of Hearts' recent domestic revival can be attributed to the consistency of Berra, a man who has emerged admirably from the shadow of Andy Webster to command his place at the centre of the club's defence.

Against Hibs, the 21-year-old will endeavour to preserve the recent defensive record and, again, he is expected to be selected to do so ahead of reputable continental imports such as Christos Karipidis and Ibrahim Tall.

Ironically, Berra's day off tomorrow ahead of the Edinburgh derby could coincide with a long-awaited Premiership induction for his predecessor, Webster. Having had his move to Wigan Athletic finally ratified by FIFA on September 4, the man who successfully negotiated his way past Romanov and out the Tynecastle exit may take to the Old Trafford bench when his new club visit Manchester United in the Premiership if he can prove his fitness.

Webster's lack of match practice rendered him an absentee from all of Scotland's European Championship qualifiers thus far, creating a chasm within the national squad that Berra, on current form, could also be confident of filling. The transition to international level to accompany club colleagues like Craig Gordon, Robbie Neilson, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley is likely to arrive sooner rather than later for the Hearts defender but, for the moment, managerless Hibs present a sufficient assignment.

"When Andy was here he did remarkably well but I think you need change from time to time," continues Berra. "I think playing in the Premiership will be a great experience for him and I hope he gets involved tomorrow at some stage. But I'm in his place now alongside Elvis and I'm learning all the time. A lot of my progress is down do Elvis, who is such a nice guy but who also won't hesitate to give me a kick up the backside on occasions. If he thinks you're wrong and you claim you're not, he soon tells you that you are."

When Romanov decreed back in the summer that his club's youth products should be allowed to flourish in the first team this season, Berra's development was exactly the kind he had in mind. The Tynecastle hierarchy have betrayed their faith in the current group of youngsters by securing Berra, Calum Elliot, Jamie Mole, Andy Driver and Lee Wallace on five-year contracts.

Security is one thing, but with Karipidis lurking in the background and Jose Goncalves preparing to mount a challenge for a first-team jersey once more, Berra is sufficiently mature to realise that standards have still to be maintained.

"I've come in this season and I want to continue giving good performances and for the manager to agree that I merit my place in the team. I think, at the moment, I do merit my place but I know that as soon as my standards drop another quality player will be waiting to step in.

"I think I had a good pre-season so I think it it's about time I got a chance to play regularly. In the games I played last season I impressed and I was disappointed that I wasn't starting in front of other people. This year I've been given my chance and I intend to keep it."

Easter Road has become something of a fortress for visiting Hearts sides of late, and the history books must be scoured back to November 2002 to unearth the last occasion the Tynecastle side overcame their rivals in Leith. Berra admits: "We haven't done as well as we should have. It's a difficult place to go but I have to admit it's a ground I like playing at. I like the atmosphere and banter from the home fans. That definitely gets you up for a game."

He may not have to contend with much ribbing on Sunday, though. The Hibs support are likely to have their minds exercised by other more pressing concerns.

Taken from the Scotsman