Hearts lead pack in hunt for the Old Firm

Published on Tuesday 25 January 2011 11:14

A WRY smile etches itself across Jim Jefferies' face when asked whether the rest of Scotland welcomes Hearts' challenge to Celtic and Rangers. "Everybody apart from the Hibs supporters," he laughs. "In fact, I met a couple of Hibs supporters who congratulated us and said it's great to see another team up there.

"We're on the coat-tails. We've never said we're going to go and win the title. What we're trying to do is put in a bit of a challenge and have a good season, and right now we're on track to do that."

Much depends on their fortunes tonight at Celtic Park. Defeat would not entirely remove Hearts from the equation but it would render their chances of title success slim. A draw would be perfectly acceptable, whilst a win means game on as they would climb to within four points of Neil Lennon's league leaders having played one match less.

Jefferies has been here before, of course. In 1998, his Hearts team pursued the Old Firm into the final weeks of the season before finishing third. That experience lingers in his memory and is driving him to atone for what he believes was an opportunity missed 13 years ago.

"We drew 1-1 with Motherwell in a midweek game when Stephane Adam played a 30-yard passback and it was intercepted and they scored when we were one up," recalls the Hearts manager. "I think we followed that up by going to Easter Road on the Saturday and we lost 2-1 after being one up. That really blew our chances of putting in a great finish. It was disappointing, but we more than made up for that with the (Scottish] Cup victory."

The monumental nature of the task undertaken by Hearts this season is reflected in the 13-point gap between themselves in third place and Kilmarnock in fourth. Challenging the Old Firm saps every ounce of energy, every resource and every portion of luck available. Even then you can still wind up short. "It's very difficult when you see the size of the two clubs and their resources," says Jefferies. "Whoever does it, whether it's Hearts this year or another team in a different year, it's going to be a fantastic achievement. It's something you can dream about, but doing it is very difficult.

"We're on a good run, we'll keep on their tails. Then, when it's down to the pressure side of it, we'll see if we can handle that. Plus a big part of it is injuries. Walter's not got the biggest squad compared to other years, and he's had two or three injuries. We've got a few injuries at the moment and are relying on boys coming in to keep things going.

"We'd all like to be in a position in this transfer window of adding a couple of faces, but when it's not possible we just try and do the best with what we've got. So far we're doing fine. The games outwith the Old Firm are going to become harder and harder, because everybody wants to knock you off your perch. But I think other teams are respectful that Hearts are going well and we're a difficult side to beat."

Deep within his soul, does Jefferies believe Hearts have the bottle to become the first club outwith Glasgow to win Scotland's championship since 1985? "We'll soon find out. It's something you can't answer until you actually get into it," he replies.

"Looking at the players, it was a big result at Kilmarnock last week - the first time in this run we came back from a goal down. We deservedly won that game, and that shows you we've got the bottle to come through that when they weren't playing at their best. They've answered the question so far. Whether they can do it as the pressure mounts up and you get the games coming, we'll soon find out."

Inevitably, keeping pace at the top of the league attracts attention from other clubs who begin to covet your players. Hearts would hardly welcome substantial offers mid-season given their current predicament, but Jefferies is aware of the scouts frequenting Tynecastle's directors' box.

"Of course they are. That's one of the problems I had in '98," he recalls. "We always said if we had been able to keep that team together we might have gone on and had more success.

"If we get an offer for somebody that we can't turn down, then we'll have to make that decision. That will be for the owner and me to discuss. I'm not nervous about it - it's just part and parcel of football. I hope it doesn't happen, but until Monday comes I'll just try and not answer the phone too often."

By then, Hearts' title prospects will be slightly clearer after matches with Celtic and St Johnstone. They are being willed on by everyone outwith Glasgow. Even Hibs, it seems.