Fans' worship ready to propel Burley's men to legends' pedestal

GARY SUTHERLAND

WITH it proving increasingly difficult to knock Hearts from their perch, the supporters continue to place their protagonists on pedestals. Seemingly there was no end to the hero worshipping yesterday. We had the throaty serenading of Mr Romanov, intermittent odes to the popular Paul Hartley and the 'we're-not-worthy' signals for the benefit of Rudi Skacel, even if the accomplished entertainer's nose didn't find the route to goal for once.

Giant images of 'Hearts Legends' hang from the Tynecastle stands: Donald Ford, Dave Mackay and John Colquhoun among other illustrious past masters. Should this current Hearts side eventually carry off what they seem eminently capable of - namely the Premierleague title - then those icons of old will soon enough be kept company by some rather outstanding performers from the present.

Whether there is permanence to George Burley's increasingly convincing squad of battle-hardened Scots and attractive imports, what matters is now. "H-E-A," bellowed the home supporters, "R-T-S." It spelled trouble for Rangers. With this blood and thunder contest slipping into injury time some Hearts players clutched at water bottles, slaking their thirsts and preparing for one final mighty effort. They doused the not inconsiderable efforts of Rangers with a striking showing of strength, utter determination and overall capability.

"We only won 1-0," said Hartley when asked afterwards why he looked so glum considering that he had played a crucial role in the most telling victory of Hearts' happy league season so far. "We didn't play as well today but it was a real team performance and we dug in and got what is a fantastic result."

A chasm has opened up between Hearts and Rangers and, not withstanding the challenge of Celtic, the shafts of possibility are beaming down on George Burley's indomitable collective. "I think everyone expected us to crack up when we play the Old Firm," added Hartley. "This shows the mentality that we have at Hearts." What they have, they have in spades.

In this irresistible amphitheatre a thrilling spectacle unfolded and the real clamour of the advance billing was not met by disappointment. There will be better games this season but the sense of possibility and pervading edginess was never removed from an eye-catching occasion. Rangers barely had a pop at goal while Hearts didn't exactly bombard the visitors either but the tension lingered in the air long after the smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics show petered out in the Edinburgh sky.

Fleeting moments from the encounter ensured that the senses remained sharpened: Skacel tormenting the Rangers captain Barry Ferguson beside the corner flag with a bag of tricks and turns until an impatient Fernando Ricksen decided to join in and was booked for his overzealous attempt to steal control of the situation; the fearsome sight of Marvin Andrews and Edgaras Jankauskas, both thundering giants, galloping off in pursuit of a loose ball; Ricksen and an equally irate Dado Prso yelling at each other after an opportunity gone amiss; managers Burley and Alex McLeish, arms spinning furiously, directing the congested match traffic from the touchline; the pile up of celebrating Hearts players on the touchline after Roman Bednar's breakthrough goal.

Hearts' match-winner was made in Scotland by the ever influential Hartley and finished by his Czech mate who was then forced to leave the field prematurely with an injury but was still afforded a rapturous reception from the Hearts supporters. "Who's been the best team so far?" asked one fan behind me in the main stand of his friend. "Herts," was the emphatic response, delivered in the native brogue.

At various points the home fans joshed Ian Murray for the crime of being a former Hibs captain and sarcastically cheered Ferguson when he bashed another effort unthreateningly over Craig Gordon's crossbar. There was the sight of some synchronised Maroon scarf burling after Hearts had assumed that all important first-half lead and there was too continuous vocal support for Hearts' assuredness at the back, their mobility in midfield and those selfless strikers, fighting for everything, as if their lives depended upon it.

"I don't think the pressure was on us," said Hartley when asked if there had been any pre-game nerves in the home dressing room. "It was up to Rangers to come and win the game but then we play very well at Tynecastle. It is a hard place come and try and get a result." Evidently it is. "The manager has stressed that we're not strong enough yet but if we stay top of the table until January we can strengthen. I think we need three or four players to get the squad really right. But we're in a good position."

For Rangers the position is one of growing discomfort. They travelled to Edinburgh to reduce the gap but ended up leaving for Glasgow with a more troublesome predicament. "It is very disappointing," said Ricksen later on. "The result? There's nothing I can say." But he tried to put the letdown into words anyhow. "We worked hard but we didn't get anything and we have to pick ourselves up again. It is going to be a very difficult task for us but we saw last season that nothing is impossible. I don't see why we can't do something like that again."

Finally the Dutchman was asked about the possibility of any lingering effect to this defeat in relation to the Champions League trip to Milan. "We can't afford a hangover," said Ricksen tersely.

Taken from the Scotsman