Hearts ace: We can split Old Firm

Bert Mitchell

HEARTS star Laryea Kingston believes the resurgent Jambos can overhaul Rangers and split the Old Firm for the second time in three years.

Saturday's 2-1 success over Rangers took Csaba Laszlo's men to within seven points of the Ibrox side.

And the Hearts playmaker, who scored the second on Saturday, believes that the isolation of Barry Ferguson and Pedro Mendes in a misfiring Gers midfield was the key to a victory that has sparked an assault on second place by the Tynecastle club.

Kingston said: "We have to keep winning our games and not worry about Rangers or Celtic, but the gap is now seven points between us and Rangers and, if we can keep our run going, it is possible we can split them and catch Rangers.

"We have to take a lot of confidence from beating Rangers for the first time this season and that is a big boost for us, but it is no use if we don't carry on from here and build on this.

"It is going to be very tough for us to catch them but we have to have belief."

The Hearts midfield ace also reckons that they key to victory was the extra aggression of the rejuvenated Jambos with Gers skipper Ferguson and Mendes marginalised by a swarming Gorgie midfield.

Kingston said: "We were more aggressive than Rangers and I also think we were a lot more positive than them and these were the two big things behind our win.

"We talked before the game that it was going to be vital we closed them down in midfield and stopped Ferguson and Mendes from having the time to dictate the game and that worked well for us.

"I think that was where we won the game in that we stopped their two best players from operating."