Jeff demands Hearts players put on United front

HEARTS manager Jim Jefferies today demanded his players preserve their European hopes by defeating Dundee United tomorrow night and ensuring a tantalising final-day Europa League encounter against Celtic.

Victory over United would guarantee Hearts enter the SPL's last round of fixtures with a chance of overhauling Hibs and qualifying for Europe. The Easter Road club sit fifth in the league, three points ahead of Hearts, and face Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow before visiting Tannadice on Sunday.

Hearts restored ambitions of Europe with Saturday's Edinburgh derby victory and Jefferies is determined that the endeavours of that 2-1 success are not undone tomorrow. Both of Hearts' final two games take place at Tynecastle, although the manager is concerned about players overlooking Dundee United and becoming too concerned with Celtic.

"Europe would have been gone if we'd lost the derby and I could have tried two or three things in the last two games. But it's far better to have that edge," said Jefferies. "We have something to play for going into the last games. All we can do is go and apply ourselves, and we'll have to because Dundee United are a good side.

"If we come out on top it gives us a chance going into the last game against Celtic. There will be a packed house at Tynecastle and it's never an easy game against them but what an atmosphere there will be. They've already clinched second place but we have a lot to play for.

"Europe looked a long way away at one stage but that just shows you can never take anything for granted. We just have to concentrate on United because the Celtic game might not mean anything if we don't win tomorrow."