Colquhoun has plenty hope in his Hearts

TYNECASTLE legend John Colquhoun has watched Hearts overcome adversity this season to remain in the Champions League driving seat and insists his former side haven't received the credit they deserve.

Colquhoun believes events off the field have been allowed to overshadow the achievements of Valdas Ivanauskas' side, who currently occupy second spot in the SPL table and are strong favourites to win the Scottish Cup next month.

The former Celtic winger views the current Hearts side as one of the success stories of the season and insists their rise to the top has been even more remarkable when you consider the upheaval the players have been through. This season has seen George Burley and Graham Rix depart, Ivanauskas take over as first-team coach on a temporary basis and now Scotland defender Andy Webster transfer-listed this week after contract negotiations broke down.

Colquhoun insists that other clubs might have crumbled under that kind of pressure and has been impressed by the way the current crop of Hearts players have continued to go about their business.

He said: "I think Hearts have been the success story of the season so far, I just hope they can see it through to the end.

"I don't think Hearts have had enough credit for how far they have come in the game this season. Some of the football they have been playing has been great, they've been doing really well and been really entertaining to watch.

"I think some of that has been overshadowed by events off the field but the fact that they have still managed to play well despite all of the adversity is a testament to the group of players that they have at the club right now.

"They've just rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job in hand and it would be a great achievement for the club if they can secure their place in the Champions League qualifiers."

Eyebrows were raised by Ivanauskas' team selection for last weekend's derby match with Edgaras Jankauskas and transfer-listed Webster left sitting in the stand, while Julien Brellier and Rudi Skacel found themselves relegated once again to the bench.

Colquhoun knows the Hearts coach will have to field his strongest side against Celtic on Sunday if they are to keep a strong hold on second place but he does not agree with the criticism aimed at the Lithuanian in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Hibs.

He added: "I would hope that they play their strongest available side, they have to really, although there are understandable reasons why clubs sometimes can't do that.

"You've got to remember that we don't see training and what goes on behind closed doors.

"I mean people criticised Jose Mourinho last week for the team he played against Liverpool but I don't believe in that. He's the manager and until you have got the whole picture I don't think it is right to criticise."

Champions Celtic will provide another stiff test for the Tynecastle side and the winger himself is no stranger to these games, having played in dozens of them during the 80s and 90s.

He admits he still has a soft spot for both sides, but, having been an ever-present during season 1985-86 and experiencing the disappointment of missing out on the title at the final hurdle, there's no doubt to who he will be cheering on this weekend.

He said: "These are always difficult games, but exciting games to play in and this one has got an added incentive to it because if Hearts get the right result it could go a long way to securing the Champions League place.

"I always have an added interest in the games against Celtic, for obvious reasons, and I have genuine feelings for both clubs having played for them both.

"But there are no mixed feelings this weekend, I want Hearts to win and I think they can win. I would love to see them playing Champions League football next season.

"The supporters have had a lot of disappointments over the years, they've been taken to the altar a few times without any reward.

"I've been there with them, I played every single game of the 1986 season when we lost out on the title but you don't have to have been through it to know just how important it is to get a result this time round.

"I would have loved to have been playing for Hearts this season. As a player, you always want to be involved at the highest level of the game and there's a good chance Hearts will get there this year."

There have been suggestions that Celtic won't be too perturbed if they come away from Tynecastle empty-handed as a win for Hearts would almost certainly relegate Rangers into third place in the table.

However, Colquhoun does not buy into that theory and insisted that Gordon Strachan's men will be going all out to keep their unbeaten run intact.

"To be honest, I think the Celtic players are in a no-win situation because their fans obviously don't want Rangers to get second place in the league," he admitted.

"But if they lose to Hearts, people will say that they lost on purpose.

"The Celtic side is full of quality players, professional players and they will want to give 100 per cent in every game they play for the club.

"Having said that, it is sometimes difficult when you've already tied the league up to keep going and it might just take a bit of an edge off Celtic. That's the thing about games at this time of the season and usually the team that needs to win the game most will win the game.

"It might sound strange to say this considering the gap that Celtic have at the top of the table, but I think that when both teams are at full fitness, there's not much between them.

"The derby defeat won't have any effect on the players because that is behind them now and they know that second place is still in their own hands."

One thing that Colquhoun believes could help turn this weekend's match in Hearts' favour is the fact that they will once again be playing in front of a partisan home crowd.

The Jambos have been handed three home ties from their final five and Colquhoun feels the supporters could act as a 12th man for the Gorgie side, continuing: "Tynecastle is a difficult place to go to at the moment, I'm definitely more confident about getting a result than I would be if the game was at Celtic Park.

"Hearts have already turned over Rangers and Hibs at Tynecastle this season and they really gave Celtic a good game of it too.

"There's always a fantastic atmosphere there, especially for a game like this. I have never played at the stadium in its current state - when I was there it held more people but it was mostly terracing and the fans were a bit further away from you. The crowd are almost on top of you nowadays and I'm sure the supporters will be second to none again this weekend."

Taken from the Scotsman