Hearts' Thomson glad to see the back of derby jinx

JASON THOMSON admitted today that he's delighted to have finally tasted victory over Hibs – almost five years after making his derby debut.

The right-back was only 17 when he made his first appearance in an Edinburgh derby back in April 2005 but a combination of injury and poor fortune resulted him in waiting until now to experience a win against the Easter Road outfit.

Saturday was his fourth start against Hibs and, having drawn two and lost one of the three derbies he had played in, he was ecstatic when Andrew Driver and Gary Glen's goals at last gave him something to celebrate on the final whistle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thomson, now 22, said: "Saturday was a great result for everyone involved with the club, the players and the fans.

"I had played in a few derbies before the weekend but I think that was the first one that I had played in and we actually gone on to win, so it was nice to get that off my back.

"I first played when I was 17 and have been involved in another three of four since then but we have either drawn or lost them, so it was nice to have something to celebrate at the end on Saturday."

Thomson has started seven of the nine matches Hearts have played since Jim Jefferies was installed as the club's new manager, just hours after the sacking of previous incumbent Csaba Laszlo.

The powerful defender offers valuable support to the strikers with the lung-bursting runs that he makes up that right-hand side and has clearly caught the attention of his manager.

He helped heap pressure on Lewis Stevenson in the Hibs defence on Saturday and his performance will have made it all the more difficult for namesake Craig Thomson to win back his place in the side.

Having been on something of an emotional and physical rollercoaster in recent seasons, Jason admitted that he's determined to make the most of the opportunities that have been coming his way over the last few weeks: "I have had a bit of a run of games recently so it has been a bit easier for me to get up and down that pitch. The manager likes full-backs to attack and I'm more than happy to go out there and do that for him.

"It has been a bit of a nightmare for me sometimes in the last few seasons, getting a run in the team, then getting injured and finding it difficult to get back in to the side again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I've been in and out of the team a lot but I feel like I am getting more of a chance with the new manager than I did under the old one and hopefully I can try to build on that.

"That is all that I can ask for and I am pleased with the opportunities that he has given me lately, I just have to take it from there and keep giving it 100 per cent.

"Craig is now back and fully fit again, I will need to see what the gaffer is saying. If we keep playing well though and getting the right results, hopefully it will make it difficult for the gaffer to change a winning team."

He is loving life under the new regime at Tynecastle and paid tribute to Jefferies, his assistant Billy Brown and to Gary Locke, who has been brought in as a coach, adding: "It has been great since the new manager came into the club. He, Billy Brown and Lockie have all been brilliant and there's been a great atmosphere among everyone.

"I've certainly enjoyed it. Craig has been injured and the manager has given me a chance to come into the side and, hopefully, I have taken it."

Locke, a former Hearts defender himself, was charged with firing the players up ahead of the derby game last weekend Thomson revealed that even the overseas players were left in no doubt as to what was required on the day: "He has been great, if you ask any of the boys, you get him the same way every morning, he's always buzzing and getting everyone going.

"When the Hibs game came round last weekend he was really up for it, he's a massive Hearts fan and I think that has really helped.

"I think he was able to let some of the foreign boys know just what this kind of game means to the club and to the fans. You always want to be fired up for every game that you play in, but there is that little edge when it comes to a derby game. You just have to control your discipline when you cross that line and go out onto the pitch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"But I don't think that it was ever a dirty game and in the end it worked out well for us."

While Driver and Glen received the plaudits for their contribution to the victory over Hibs on Saturday, Thomson reckoned that David Obua also answered a few of his doubters with a man-of-the-match performance. The Ugandan has come in for criticism from some quarters since his arrival at Tynecastle in August 2008 but Thomson believes that the club's supporters may soon see another side of their gangly hitman now that he is working with Jefferies and co – and feeling the benefit of advice from the likes of Jambos legend John Robertson – adding: "I think that David has had a lot of stick since he came to the club and he has even said that some of it has been deserved.

"But credit where credit is due because I thought that he was class against Hibs. To be fair to him, I think that he would say that he prefers to play up front than out wide on the left, which is where he generally played under the previous manager.

"Up front he gives you another dimension with his height and, with Gary's pace and movement off of him, it will hopefully prove to be quite fruitful for us.

"It was also great to have Andrew Driver back in the side with his pace, he got his goal and he another couple of chances as well. He tired towards the end but I think that was to be expected because he's had such a hard time with injury this season.

"Ruben and Blacky were also back in this side again, which was a big boost to everyone and that will obviously help the manager as well because it will mean more competition for place in the team again.

"We went through a spell there where a lot of the guys were out but hopefully we're coming to the end of it now."

This weekend Hearts play host to Rangers, knowing that they have just three more SPL matches remaining in which to ensure a place in the top half of the table this season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thomson added: "We seem to be doing better in the bigger games that we have played in the last few weeks.

"Rangers had a difficult game last night against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup and you never know if that will have any effect on them. If there is ever a good time to get a team like Rangers, then this might just be it because there is a lot going on for them.

"Obviously we are still trying to get this top-six place and all we can do is our best. We are only seven points behind Hibs now and if we get into that top six then you play the team all around you in the league so means there's a chance to pick up points at the same time as your main rivals are dropping them.

"If we can get in there and then get a couple of victories under our belts then we might be able to have a real go for one of the European places."

Related topics: