JJ says on the bravest would bet against Hearts in Celtic clash

WITH eight wins from nine away fixtures this season, Jim Jefferies predicted today that only the bravest would bet against Hearts in Wednesday's potentially pivotal title encounter with Celtic at Parkhead.

Saturday's inspiring 1-0 triumph over Rangers has augmented belief that the SPL championship race is being contested by three clubs – and Jefferies expects Hearts to be fearless in Glasgow as they seek to further enhance their championship prospects.

He stressed that there should be no cause for apprehension despite Hearts suffering their only away defeat of the season at Parkhead last September. Since then, they have won every away league match.

"Celtic will be a hard game, but so was Kilmarnock away and so was Rangers at home. We have six points out of six from those two," said the Tynecastle manager. "With our record away from home we can go there with nothing to fear.

"If we win it, we will be even more in the hunt. It's in our own hands. Hopefully we can go there and get a result. Who would bet against us given the form we've been in away from home?

"People asked me before Saturday's game if I'd be happy with a draw and then a draw at Parkhead.

"I said no because I'd rather win one of them. I'd like to win the two of them, but if you win one you have more points than two draws.

"We probably did Celtic a favour on Saturday but we're not in this to do anybody a favour. We might do Rangers a favour on Wednesday night but this is for ourselves."

Jefferies is hopeful of having top goalscorer Kevin Kyle available to face Celtic. "It's a possibility," he revealed.