Sep 1 2008 Craig Swan Reports

ANDY DRIVER admits the Hearts squad used to feel horrendous going into work.

But the Tynecastle star insists the same players now can't wait to get to their Riccarton training base and graft with new boss Csaba Laszlo.

Driver and his colleagues are relishing life under the new coach and made it three wins out of four in the SPL with success at New Douglas Park.

Laszlo's troops displayed their new-found resolve to recover in perfect fashion from their nightmare cup defeat to Airdrie and maintain their good start to the championship campaign.

Driver reckons there is a fresh spirit within the camp and insists it is a far cry from some of the bad old days at the club. He said: "It's a long season and we need to keep showing consistency but the buzz around the place is there for everyone to see.

"Everyone is pulling in the right direction and wants it and that is a change from the last couple of years.

"It brings the best out of players. Look at Mikey Stewart's performances this season.

"There were points last year when it was horrendous going into training but this year everyone wants to get in.

"Last year when we were losing games we should have been winning everyone was down and no one was geeing us up. This season the manager is there.

"Even after last Wednesday's bad result against Airdrie he had the players buzzing for this game and it showed."

Hearts may not have swaggered over the line against Accies but they certainly did enough to merit their triumph.

Marius Zaliukas' header from a Driver corner had them in front at the interval before the English kid pounced on a dreadful defensive error from Accies' stopgap centre-back Simon Mensing to rifle a second on the hour.

Opportunities were squandered to seal the game and that caused a nervy finale when sub Derek Lyle headed home for Accies with 10 minutes to reduce the deficit.

Hearts saw it through, though, and if anyone needed a glimpse of the new steel within the ranks they should have hung around after the final whistle. Midfield general Stewart and sub Audrius Ksanavicius continued an argument over one misplaced injury-time pass and as the pair got angry Hristos Karipidis had to drag the raging Lithuanian away.

Clearly, Stewart wants the same perfection as gaffer Laszlo and Driver admits he loved seeing the aggro between his colleagues.

He said: "I think the arguing within the team is a healthy thing. A bit of argument shows that everyone gives a damn and wants to win the games. That drives you on and it's positive.

"Last season we were losing 4-0 by Rangers in a game and Nacho Novo gave the ball away. Barry Ferguson ran 20 yards to go mental at him. That showed the difference between their team and ours.

"Now we are getting that wee bit of dig about us. Last year in these type of games when we were cruising at 2-0 up and then lost a goal we would have collapsed. But we have a bit of fight and organisation. Even if teams get a goal back they are not getting any second chances."

Accies fall guy Mensing was only playing at centre-half after dropping back to cover when injury ended Chris Swailes' day but to his credit he made no attempt to deflect blame.

He said: "It was my fault. If you make a mistake like that you will get punished in the SPL.

"We didn't get going until after Hearts scored their first and you can't do that in the SPL.

"The first goal was also a sloppy one to lose and although we did get going a bit after it the second one killed us.

"We always said from day one - even after we had a good start - that it would be important how we came back from defeats.

"That's us had two on the bounce now but we have a good strong squad and I'm sure we can bounce back."

MAN OF THE MATCH Michael Stewart (Hearts)

MAGIC MOMENT Sub Saul Mikoliunas getting collar felt by boys in blue for helping punters wind up the home fans at 2-0. Hilarious.

Taken from the Daily Record