HARTLEY ON DERBY MISSION

Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley is desperate to taste victory at Easter Road on Sunday after enduring some of his worst moments in a maroon jersey at Hibernian's ground.

The former Hibs man admits his below-par performance in his first Edinburgh derby as a Hearts player proved to be a pivotal moment in his career.

Few would have imagined Hartley would go on to become a key player for Scotland as he struggled at the beginning of his Tynecastle career under Craig Levein.

His display in a 1-0 defeat at Easter Road in August 2003 saw him left out for the next five weeks but Hartley went on to establish himself as one of the top midfielders in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

He said: "It was only my second game into my Hearts career where I didn't do particularly well and the manager at the time let me know that.

"I think after that I didn't play for four or five weeks so it was probably one of the turning points in my career at the club.

"We do a thing called video analysis. When Craig was here, we always went through that on the Monday after the game.

"He pointed out a few home truths and I took it on board. It was probably the work ethic which he installed in me."

Hartley's improvement, and that of Hearts as a whole, has not been matched by their displays in Leith though.

The Jambos have not won across the city for four years and lost both their matches there last season.

The former Millwall player said: "The games there last year were definitely a low point. Our fans are desperate to win to get the bragging rights.

"We've not performed there since I've been at the club and hopefully that will change on Sunday. I don't know what it is, we have just not played well.

"It's quite an intimidating atmosphere, especially across from that Main Stand."

Hartley does not believe the departure of Hibs boss Tony Mowbray to take over at West Brom will make it easier for Hearts.

He has seen Craig Levein, John Robertson, George Burley and Graham Rix vacate the Tynecastle hotseat in his spell at the club.

"Obviously he was a well-liked manager, Tony Mowbray," Hartley said.

"He did a fantastic job there. But it's part and parcel of football. When you lose a manager, you just get on with it.

"I don't think it will affect them too much on Sunday. When they cross the white line, they will be doing their utmost to win the game.

"It's a derby game, they will be desperate to win for themselves and their supporters. They will miss him but I don't think it will have too much of an effect on them on Sunday.

"We know what it is like losing a manager. They will want to do their best and impress their new manager, whoever that may be. He might be watching on Sunday."

Hartley feels the derby clash is the ideal follow-up to a dramatic international break that saw him help Scotland to victory over France before the 2-0 defeat in Ukraine.

"It's one we are desperate to win and we're desperate for our supporters to win it too so it's probably the perfect game for us," he said.

"Over the last couple of weeks, we've got our confidence back and seem to be playing a lot better football."

Taken from sportinglife.com