Danny's Paterson praise

24.09.2012

Hearts full-back Danny Grainger was delighted to help end his team's barren run as the Jambos ran riot at Tannadice in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter.

The boys in white and maroon made a mockery of recent criticism with a fine display as a terrific double from young star Callum Paterson and a long range stunner from Arvydas Novikovas gave the Edinburgh side all three points with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, and in doing so earning the Jambos their first Tannadice triumph in over three years.
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Reflecting on a massively satisfying 90 minutes, Danny was keen to shower praise on his fledgling team-mate Callum Paterson as the Riccarton graduate lit up Dundee with his first senior goals for the club.

Despite beginning the season as a flying full-back, Callum has proven equally adept as an attacking midfielder and now appears to be manager John McGlynn's first choice striker. The ability to play in so many positions is a quality that was not lost on Danny.

"He's such a versatile player. When he's scoring goals he's obviously best utilised as a striker! How far he goes in the game is up to him", said Danny. "He's not the only one who scores them for fun in training, but it's good to see it translate into goals on the pitch. He's been fearless for us, he ran around Anfield like he belonged there."

"It's good to know he can play anywhere on the pitch", continued the Englishman. "It's no different to the likes of Driver and Arvydas, they can play on either wing and Stevo can play anywhere across the midfield and up front."

Despite some mixed results that had yielded only three points in the five SPL games played since the start of the campaign, many had begun to question whether or not Hearts had what it took to perform at the top end of the table this season. Despite results - and a worrying lack of goals - suggesting that may be the case, Danny was quick to point out that he and his fellow squad members always felt the goals would come.

"I wouldn't say we've been missing a spark, we've just not taken chances. In the past few games we've not scored the first goal and you saw today how important it was. We've got boys like Arvy and Callum in the team who we know can score goals for us, but in the past few weeks the ball just wasn't falling for us."

Finally, a big week lies ahead for Hearts. First up is Livingston in the Third Round of the Scottish Communities League Cup, followed up by the visit of Kenny Shiels' Kilmarnock to Tynecastle on Saturday. After a troubled start to the season, Danny thinks the team have a real chance to kick on and get their season started by progressing in the cup and keeping pace with league leaders Motherwell at the summit of the SPL.

"If we get a win on Tuesday night, we're in the quarter finals of the League Cup and then a win against Kilmarnock on Saturday suddenly turns what people have been describing as a bad start to the season into a good one."

Hearts World