Simmons joins 100 club at Tynecastle

PAUL KIDDIE

ASK most football fans which players in the current Hearts first-team squad have played 100 games for the club and they'll probably respond with the usual list of names.

Steven Pressley, Robbie Neilson and Andy Webster will be the immediate Jambos who spring to mind, as no doubt will be goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who chalked up his century of competitive matches in Saturday's stirring 1-0 triumph over Rangers. One Gorgie star who may not immediately register in their thoughts is Stephen Simmons, the midfielder having also hit the milestone in the weekend clash against the champions.

While, Scotland No.1 Gordon has raced to his century since establishing himself in the first team, his team-mate has enjoyed a somewhat more pedestrian ascent to the landmark. Simmons broke into the top team under former boss Jim Jefferies, making his debut against Dundee United at Tynecastle in December 2000.

A combination of lack of form and an unfortunate string of injuries saw his opportunities restricted but he has proved himself to be one the great survivors and has now served under four managers - Craig Levein, John Robertson and George Burley in addition to Jefferies.

He is the first to admit there have been times when he feared his Tynecastle career was grinding to a halt but after featuring in all but one of Burley's teams this season - he missed the 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice - he is thoroughly enjoying life with the league leaders.

"There were a few times when I thought I was on my way out of Tynecastle but I suppose it is a positive for me that every manager who has come to the club hasn't wanted to release me," he said.

"It's tough to get into the starting line-up at the moment with so many international players here. I will just keep playing away, wherever the boss wants." Simmons came on for the stricken Roman Bednar in the first half of Saturday's victory, the Czech striker hobbling off with a cartilage injury shortly after scoring what proved to be the only goal of the game.

He found himself paired up front with Edgar Jankauskas, although the middle of the park is a more natural area for him to patrol.

Wherever he's deployed, the 23-year-old is just happy to be on the scene with Hearts blazing a trail at the top of the SPL under new boss Burley. "I'll play up front or in midfield, I don't mind," he said.

"It's just great to be part of a good team at the moment. The new gaffer has been brilliant and the standards have been raised so high. He demands nothing but the best from the players even in training and we all know that."

Simmons helped Hearts end a seven-year winless streak at home to Rangers, the midfielder admitting the weekend victory was the perfect manner in which to mark his special occasion.

Not since 1998 had the Tynecastle fans been able to toast a win for their team against Rangers in Gorgie, a statistic which made Saturday's result all the sweeter for all concerned.

The win rubber-stamped Hearts' credentials as credible championship contenders and blasted open an 11-point advantage over the Ibrox outfit. Simmons and his team-mates were well aware of the fact that many people were expecting the Jambos' bubble to burst against the Glasgow giants but he claimed the sceptics seriously underestimated the quality of the unbeaten table-toppers.

"I think we silenced a lot of the critics at the weekend," he said.

"The vultures were circling, waiting for us to trip up against Rangers but it wasn't going to happen.

"We had nothing to fear going into the match and even if we had lost at the weekend, we'd still have been top of the league.

"We couldn't have asked for any better. They came here as champions and we showed them how to play. It was a great result and all credit to the boys as they have been playing well all season. We have waited seven years for that win at Tynecastle. It was a long time coming but well worth the wait and I'm delighted it came in my 100th game for the club."

Hearts appear in pole position to break the duopoly of the Old Firm in the SPL, although Burley and his players refuse to get carried away after just eight games of the season.

"People don't like change and they don't like seeing us at the top of the league," said Simmons.

"But we're 11 points ahead of Rangers now and while there is a long way to go, that gap will be difficult to close."

He added: "We showed we were determined to win the match right from the first whistle, the spirit in the team is unbelievable and I think they ran out of ideas at the end.

"That's eight of eight now in the league and it's onto Falkirk on Sunday and we'll be looking for another three points to keep our run going. It promises to be another tough away fixture but hopefully we can get a good result."

The Rangers match saw Rudi Skacel's incredible scoring run finally end, the Czech Republic internationalist having netted in each of his previous seven league games. Skacel and fellow- midfielder Paul Hartley have accounted for 11 of their side's 21 goals in the SPL but with the pair drawing a blank against champions, Simmons was delighted to see Bednar on the mark.

"We showed we don't have to rely on Rudi to score our goals," he said. "That was the first time in eight league games he has failed to find the back of the net but Roman came up with the goods with a superb winner.

"It's just a pity he got injured as he was looking pretty dangerous against Rangers."

Burley has urged Simmons to keep up his good work, saying: "There is no doubt that Stephen has ability but he has got to show the energy and work rate which will get him a regular place in the team. He can play up front or in midfield and we are trying to push him on this season."

It was widely reported that Gordon made his 100th consecutive appearance between the sticks against Rangers but that milestone won't be reached until the Jambos head to Parkhead to take on Celtic on Saturday, October 15.

Taken from the Scotsman