Hearts gunning for top two, says Locke

WHILE some people have already decreed the SPL a one-horse race this term, Hearts first- team coach Gary Locke is having none of it. He knows both sides of the Old Firm will be in there contesting the honours and is confident the capital side will be vying for attention as well.

He was in the dug-out as the Gorgie side held Rangers to a score draw in the opening day of the season and there as Paulo Sergio’s men gave the kind of performance needed to better Celtic at Tynecastle earlier this month. This Sunday they have the chance to make home advantage count again when they play host to Rangers and he rubbished the idea that it will be any tougher than the match against Neil Lennon’s team, despite the 10-point gap that exists between the Old Firm rivals. “[Celtic] have had a couple of bad results but they have also had key players injured. I’m pretty sure come the end of the season Celtic will be there and hopefully we will be there, too.

“If we can beat both them and Rangers it will help us. We have had a couple of sticky results as well, but we’ve shown we are a decent team who can play well. We’re under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be. But if we can play as well as we have done the last few games we’ll have a chance. Everybody is up for the Old Firm games and if you do get a result against them you see the smile on everyone’s faces.”

At Tynecastle, though, goals are proving trickier for the opposition to come by. Hearts have not lost a goal on their own turf in the SPL since the end of July. They have netted nine goals without reply. “In our opinion we should be up there challenging and the last couple of games have been great in terms of consistency,” said Locke. “We have had a couple of wins now so the thing from our point of view is that we build on it. It’s pleasing. It’s no coincidence we have played the same people in the back four. If we can keep all these boys fit then I think we can go on to have a good season.”