Balloch: Forget talk of claiming the title, our only target is survival

TYNECASTLE manager Murray Balloch has guided his side into third place in the Central Taxis Premier Division since taking charge earlier in the season but insists that his objective is to keep Tynecastle in the top flight, not to think about winning titles.

Tynecastle were promoted last season as First Division champions along with runners-up Civil Service Strollers who provide the opposition at Fernieside Playing Fields tomorrow.

"To be totally honest, after promotion, our main aim was to remain in the league," stressed Balloch. "The good thing about being a new team in the Premier Division is that other teams just have to take us at face value because, without knowing too much about us, some of them have been caught on the hop. We have now played most of the sides in the league, we are not scared of anybody and we are where we are on merit."

Tynecastle returned to playing two weeks ago after a weather enforced lay-off and immediately hit the ground running with an emphatic 5-1 away victory against Edinburgh City.

"We had trained really well and the spirit in the dressing room was brilliant," said Balloch. "Everything we did that day came off for us and maybe City were nursing a footballing hangover after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Montrose. Having said that, we kept the ball, applied ourselves well and our movement was excellent.

"We were more than pleased with the result although I reminded the players it was only three points. They were brought down to earth with a hard training session the following Tuesday. What I have been able to do recently is play a couple of bounce games involving some of our under 19 players. I may even introduce one or two tomorrow which will have some of our more experienced players biting their nails."

Tynecastle have been well served this season by goalkeeper John Gilbertson who has impressed while defender Darren Aird looks capable of playing at a higher grade of football. Eddie Mearns, the former Hearts, Dundee and Bonnyrigg Rose player, is still only 21 and has been nicknamed "the bulldog" at Tynecastle.

Balloch added: "He has terrific pace, is direct and works very hard when he does not have the ball.

"Steven McKenzie has been unfortunate with injuries but is now capable of making runs into the opposition penalty box and his attitude is absolutely first-class while strikers Paul Devlin and Wayne Sproule are causing defenders all sorts of problems with 11 and eight goals respectively.

"People keep reminding me that Tynecastle are a young side but most of them have two or three years experience in the East of Scotland League."

Turning his attention to tomorrow's game against the Strollers, Balloch added: "I watched them in their 2-2 draw with Spartans last Saturday and they gave as good as they got. They never gave up, they battled away and got their late equaliser. They were right in Spartans faces and I expect them to do the same to us.

"Both teams can definitely play football and we expect a hard game so one thing is certain – our players must be up for the game. The Strollers are a good side who are well organised therefore we have to match them. We have to be confident in our own ability, get the ball down and do the simple things.

"I will be telling my players not to leave their hearts in the dressing room and go out and compete."

Balloch would not be drawn on whether Tynecastle still have a chance of lifting the Premier Division title this season but added: "If we could put a winning run together then who knows but more realistically it would be nice to get a cup run."

Balloch has a full squad for tomorrow including midfield player Robbie Arthur who has been out injured since October.

Civil Service Strollers, meantime, trail Tynecastle by nine points although they do have two games in hand over their Capital rivals and showed what they are capable of by drawing 2-2 with league leaders Spartans last weekend.

"We deserved a draw in a fairly even match," declared the Strollers joint-manager, Keith Stewart who, along with Andy Raeburn, helped them to promotion last season.

"We adapted well to the conditions and although Spartans probably had one or two more chances than us our goalkeeper only really had one save to make.

"What I was very happy with was that all of our players gave 100 per cent from beginning to end. We need to win our games in hand and I am confident that we can finish in mid-table."

Tynecastle and the Strollers have not yet met this season although in last season's encounters the away side triumphed by the odd goal, the Strollers winning 1-0 at Fernieside while Tynecastle won 2-1 at Marine Drive.

"They were both fairly even games and tomorrow it will be a tough game because Tynecastle are a hard side to beat and they have brought in players.

"I watched them against Edinburgh University and Eddie Mearns was particularly effective on the right hand side of the park."

The Strollers can rely on John Dunn who is playing very well while new signing, Alan Wilson from Newtongrange Star, has had 70 minutes under his belt and his pace could pose problems.

"If we play to the top of our abilities then we have a chance tomorrow," said Stewart.

"Our players are under no illusions – they know this will be a difficult game."