Csaba calls for players to put their hearts into it

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 08:41

CSABA LASZLO has demanded greater enthusiasm and fighting spirit from Hearts at Kilmarnock tomorrow as the Edinburgh club aim to improve their current league plight.

Last week's home defeat to St Johnstone was notable for a meek second-half capitulation which Laszlo is determined not to see repeated and today he challenged his players to display more devotion to the cause if they are to move clear of the lower echelons of the table.

Hearts sit ninth ahead of the journey to Ayrshire and are guaranteed a stern test of their credentials from Kilmarnock. Laszlo is adamant that they should not be found wanting. He said: "It is not only passion, they must show more fighting spirit.

"They must show how to keep the points and the success. If you think in this direction, a nice game is not important. The important thing is to collect points.

"The players who will be on the field know 100 per cent what they have to expect from the other team. They must do their job."

With Jose Goncalves suspended, Laszlo must choose between Dawid Kucharski and Eggert Jonsson to play in central defence alongside Ismael Bouzid. He said: "Kucharski is there and Eggert can also play in this position.

"Jose Goncalves is definitely a player who has played fantastic football this season. He will be a big loss but I hope the player who replaces him can have a good day and show a good performance.

"It is between Kucharski and Eggert. I will decide before the game but the new partnership must be okay. We cannot change the situation, we must try to get the best out of it.

"Every Scottish team has one or sometimes two strikers who are good in the air. Everybody knows this and we must be prepared for this, we can't avoid it."

&#149 HEARTS supporters are reminded that there will be a minute of silence prior to the match at Rugby Park in honour of Frank Beattie.

The Kilmarnock legend passed away on Thursday 19 November aged 76. Regarded as one of the finest players in the Ayrshire club's history, his most memorable moment came at Tynecastle on 24 April 1965 when he captained Kilmarnock to the league title. A 2-0 win in Edinburgh secured the championship on goal average from Hearts.