Up for the battle

Gary Locke is expecting his team to enter into a battle at Dens Park on Saturday, but insists it's nothing to do with past clashes.

Hearts travel up the east coast knowing that a maroon victory would consign the Dee to relegation. Despite intense media focus on what happened at Dens Park in 1986, the Gorgie gaffer insists he's only looking forward and not back.

Speaking to press at this morning's pre-match press conference at Riccarton, Gary said: "I was really pleased with last week's result and performance as well, especially in the first half. So more of the same, as I touched on last week I feel it's important that we try to win every game between now and the end of the season. It was a good start last week, hopefully we can continue that on Saturday.

"Dundee are playing exactly the way I would expect from a John Brown team. They're all working very hard and he's done a magnificent job since he went in there. They're fighting for their lives so we know it'll be a different game (from last week), it'll be a physical game and a battle so we need to make sure we go up there and match that."

When asked if the events of 1986 had any bearing whatsoever on his team talk for this weekend, Gary replied: "I was there. I was at the game with my dad and brothers. It was a bad day for the football club, so I'd rather not talk about it!

"I don't see it as a chance for payback. That was in 1986, this is a completely different football club. What happens in the past, for me, stays in the past. I'm a manger now and I'll look forward. I've been really pleased with the last couple of performances but they've gone now, there's nothing we can do about them.

"I look forward now, it's a game against Dundee and a game that I'm desperate to win, as are the players."

Hearts World