Old school meets new as Hartley hails passion of old-timer Malofeev

IT IS just over four years since Hearts last won at Easter Road and, while memories stretch long, patience is about to snap.

On Wednesday, Hearts will try to end the kind of run taunts are made of. To do it they know a vast improvement on their showing at the same venue last month is required. There have been five draws there since November 2002 and three Hibs wins but, with the CIS Cup quarter-final a fight to the finish, Eduard Malofeev's men have no luxury of a replay on more fortuitous turf.

Midfielder Paul Hartley is one of those who has yet to experience victory in Hearts colours at the home of their city rivals. But, despite the current tumult he believes the make or break nature of the cup tie could be the perfect incentive for the Scottish Cup winners.

"Yeah, I think this could be a defining month in our season. As well as both the Old Firm within four weeks, there's Falkirk in between and there's this quarter-final, so I think it's very important that we get good results in those games because it could make or break our season.

"Our record isn't good at Easter Road but I don't really know why. It's not been good since I've been at the club, which is four seasons now, so hopefully we can turn that around and get a result there. We played them a couple of weeks ago and were very fortunate to get a 2-2 result but hopefully on Wednesday night we can get the right result for us."

The most recent result was one of the main contentions raised by the senior squad members during last week's head-to-head with club owner Vladimir Romanov, with the players unhappy with what they considered the lightweight backing offered to Hartley in the midfield that day. Against quality and spirited opposition in the likes of Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Michael Stewart, the absence of players such as Julien Brellier and Bruno Aguiar was keenly felt.

"I love being in a battle with some of the most talented midfielders in Scotland and you know you are always in for a good game. It's a fantastic battle when you play against them and I always look forward to it. But, I don't really pay too much attention to other players so long as I'm playing well and the team is playing well. That's the strongest part of their team, their midfield, with Michael Stewart, Scotty Brown and Kevin Thomson, so hopefully we will have our strongest midfield on show on Wednesday night."

Those close to Romanov have revealed that, coming from a country where the national cup competitions carry little kudos, the club owner has underestimated the importance of the two domestic cup trophies last term. Having witnessed the Scottish Cup jubilations, he is no longer harbouring such illusions and with Malofeev out to underline his independence in team matters, the hope is that Hartley may have greater support this time out.

"I think we made our point on Friday and then that was it," said the Scotland international, when asked if the unrest highlighted last weekend in a statement by Steven Pressley had prompted further talks with Romanov. "I think we said things that had to be said and they have been said now and hopefully we can get on with playing football and trying to win games."

The fact that Hearts enter this capital encounter with yet another man at the helm, following news that Valdas Ivanauskas is unlikely to return this week as initially suggested by the club, will be balanced out by the derby debut of John Collins in the home dug-out. Old school meets new, as 64-year-old Malofeev, a veteran of the 1966 World Cup, attempts to outwit a 38-year-old who starred on the same world stage in 1998.

Hartley sees the passion of Hearts' Russian old-timer as a help rather than a hindrance. "He's very passionate and really enthusiastic about the game which is a good thing. It will be a new thing for him going into a derby game but I'm sure it will be one he's looking forward to. He's very unique."

If they broke the mould when the Russian was born, something Hartley does not want to be a one-off is the taste of success enjoyed last season. If the Scottish Cup hat-trick against Hibs in the semi-final was a personal high, it was matched by the outcome in the final in May.

"We want more silverware. We want to win. We want to be back at Hampden in March." The targets have been set, now all Hartley and his colleagues have to do is end a four-year barren spell at Easter Road.

Taken from the Scotsman