Hearts know from experience Rangers team will be fired up

MATT MCGEEHAN
Published on Friday 2 March 2012 03:43

MANAGER Paulo Sergio expects his Hearts side to face a Rangers team full of quality irrespective of events at Ibrox in the hours prior to tomorrow’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash.

Sixth-placed Hearts – stuttering of late with one point from their last five SPL games – travel to Glasgow to face a Rangers side shrouded in uncertainty amid the throes of administration.

Player redundancies are possible today ahead of the match, but Sergio anticipates Ally McCoist’s side will provide a stern test whoever takes to the field.

The Hearts manager said: “In this moment it’s hard to study Rangers, because in the last game they had lots of changes, but it’s Rangers – lots of players with quality.

“Last week against Inverness [Rangers won 4-1], players I never saw before played very well.

“The talent is there, the quality is there. It doesn’t matter what the starting XI is, we should know it’s going to be strong and it’s going to be hard for us to beat Rangers at Ibrox.

“But we believe we can do it, so we’re going to work for that.

“It’s hard to make a prediction of their line-up, but there is a kind of football that they play and we know what to expect.”

Hearts have had their own financial problems this term – players’ wages were delayed in three successive months – and Sergio does not expect Rangers’ off-field woes to have too great an on-field impact.

“I believe they’re going to be hungry and with lots of energy for the game,” he said.

“They are professionals and professional people, honest people, even when we’re not happy with situations, we go on the pitch and fight for our lives.

“Our players should be ready to face a team with a great desire.

“I know it’s going to be hard but I believe we’re going to be ready for the challenge.”

Hearts appeared to be galvanised during their own financial predicament by stringing together strong results – something Sergio anticipates may also happen with Rangers under McCoist, but not because of a direct impact of the situation.

Sergio added: “If people believe that, everybody’s going to stop paying their professionals.

“The problem doesn’t make you stronger. What makes you stronger is the way you deal with the problem. That’s the difference. I believe Ally is able to do the same. I know he, better than me, will know the way to deal with it.”

Hearts have lost four of their last five SPL games, their single point in that period coming from a last-gasp draw against Kilmarnock.

Sergio believes his team showed signs of improvement in last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Dundee United. “It’s not good. It’s disappointing,” Sergio said.

“There’s a reason for this long period without good results. We were playing every three days and losing lots of things we showed before.

“Last weekend we didn’t get a result, but I’m positive because I saw my team returning with some of the characteristics we were losing in those games.”

Former Celtic striker Craig Beattie could be in contention for his debut tomorrow, while Sergio could have players back who missed the United clash, including captain Marius Zaliukas (knee).

His fellow defender Andy Webster, formerly of Rangers, is available again following suspension, while midfielders Ian Black (ribs) and Adrian Mrowiec (knee) could return, but David Templeton (groin) remains out.

Taken from the Scotsman