VLAD JIBE GOT US FIRED UP SAYS PARS ACE MARK

DUNFERMLINE striker Mark Burchill took great delight in ramming the words of Vladimir Romanov down his throat.

The Hearts owner told his players they would be sold to teams such as Dunfermline and Kilmarnock if they failed to beat the Pars.

Former Hearts hitman Burchill reckons Romanov's comments smacked of bad taste and fuelled his team-mates still further to prove a point - and take one - at Tynecastle.

He also backed former club-mates Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon in their stance against the owner.

Burchill said: "Of course Romanov's comments motivated us - and I'm sure Kilmarnock were peeved at reading them as well. They were not nice and showed a touch of arrogance.

"From the outside looking in, it's never great when a pro from another club feels so strongly about certain issues he has to speak out against his chairman.

"Obviously, Romanov has been taking more and more to do with things.

"Elvis is a players' man - he's atop, top pro and if something is not right he will always step in and fight for his team-mates. Hearts are a great club and I hope their problems are sorted for the sake of Scottish football.

"But on the team bus coming to the game we were telling each other this was our best chance to beat them at Tynecastle.

"It's ridiculous we haven't won here in 19 years."

The Pars also haven't had their woes to seek with the departure of Jim Leishman and a new boss set to be named this week.

Burchill added: "It has been a difficult and emotional time and tough for all the lads, although there hasn't been a great change on the coaching front as we've worked with Craig Robertson for 18 months.

"Most of the players were close to Jim because he brought us to the club and he did a good job for Dunfermline."

Burchill also believed his team were good for their 1-1 draw, at least.

He said: "We believe we were arguably even the better team.

"Before, we might have come here and invited pressure and held on for a point but we came to Hearts to win the match."

Taken from the Daily Record