John McGlynn sees Hearts close gap on Hibs

By COLLEEN STRACHAN
Published on Monday 24 December 2012 12:07

HEARTS boss John McGlynn admits his on-form side have city rivals Hibs in their sights after they climbed into the top six with yesterday’s hard-fought win over Dundee United at Tynecastle.

Ryan Stevenson’s first-half double proved enough to secure a 2-1 victory, with Keith Watson netting for the visitors after the break.

The win saw Hearts make it seven points from their last three matches and propelled them back into the top half of the SPL for the first time since September, just three points behind fourth-place Hibs, who have headed them for most of the season.

McGlynn said: “The SPL is a crazy league because we have been, by all accounts, not that consistent this season compared to other teams. But we have only had one defeat in our last seven games and that came against Celtic.

“St Johnstone have been on a good run, as have Aberdeen for a spell and Hibs, and 
Inverness have been flying – yet we’re now only three points behind Hibs. We’re delighted to be climbing the table and to get into the top six.” Hearts now face a hectic festive period, with a Boxing Day clash at Kilmarnock closely followed by a long trip to Ross County before the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle a week on Thursday. However, McGlynn admits his side will relish those matches after finally hitting some form following a tough start to the season.

He continued: “It was good to get three points at the start of the Christmas period, as it lifts us up the table. We had to work very hard to get the victory but I thought, over the piece, we deserved it.

“We now go to Rugby Park on Wednesday with a bit of a feel-good factor and some confidence.”

Taken from the Scotsman