Ryan McGowan not making a meal of Ivan Sproule spat

HEARTS defender Ryan McGowan anticipates tomorrow’s Edinburgh derby will be less eventful than his most recent match against Hibernian, when he scored before being handed a two-match ban for an altercation with Ivan Sproule.

Hibs winger Sproule is suspended for the third capital clash of the season, meaning versatile Australian McGowan will not meet the player he was accused of headbutting at Easter Road in January.

The incident appeared innocuous at the time but earned the 22-year-old a suspension from the Scottish Football Association. Even so, that ban did nothing to detract from McGowan’s joy at scoring, and at being on the winning side.

“Nothing could have taken away [from it],” he said. “I could have been suspended for the rest of the season and it wouldn’t have mattered too much, because getting my first goal down that end is just something that since I came here I’ve always wanted to do.” McGowan is adamant there are no lingering hard feelings, having seen his rival in an Edinburgh restaurant this week.

However, McGowan reckons the most disciplined team will be rewarded in the cauldron of Tynecastle this weekend. “I was out for something to eat and I saw him. We just acknowledged each other,” said McGowan, who joked he motioned his head towards Sproule. “We spoke after the game and it was a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing.

“I think the team that keep their discipline and play their kind of football will probably end up winning the game.”

McGowan scored the opener in the 3-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win at Easter Road, scrambling the ball in from close range after an Andy Webster header down.

“In the last game I scored a bit of a screamer from far out,” McGowan added.

“After the game Webby [Webster] was teasing me saying it was already across the line.

“It was definitely my goal. I need to score at Tynecastle now.

“I’ll be over the moon if I can get a goal on Sunday.” McGowan, though, is uncertain of his involvement, with manager Paulo Sergio set to shuffle his defence.

“I’ll just be happy if I’m on the pitch,” added McGowan, who has played across the back four and in midfield this term.

“The manager’s got a decision with [captain Marius] Zaliukas out and [right-back Jamie] Hamill back from suspension.

“Whatever he decides, if that means I’m on the bench and come on for the last 20 minutes or even don’t feature, I need to make sure if I come on I do 100 per cent. When I play any position, I just give 100 per cent and try and do my best for the team.”

With the derby and a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final replay at St Mirren to follow next Wednesday, McGowan recognises how crucial the next two games are in the context of Hearts’ season.

He said: “It’s a massive week coming up. With the run-in to the end of the season we need to pick up as many points as we can to try to get up the ladder and we’ve got the replay in the cup.

“Hopefully we can get a win there and have a semi-final to look forward to.”