Jefferies remains confident of top-six finish

HEARTS' hopes of finishing in the top six of the SPL remain in their own hands despite their 4-1 defeat by Rangers on Saturday. With games against St Mirren and Kilmarnock to play before the split, Jim Jefferies' side will definitely claim a place in the upper half if they get a win and a draw, and the manager remains confident they will do it.

"It won't set us back," he said after the weekend loss. "It will only set us back if we don't learn from it. We've got two tough games, but we're well capable and we need to get the result required."

St Johnstone and Aberdeen have a game in hand, but both still have to play Rangers, and meet each other in their last game before the split. Saints also have a match against Dundee United, while Aberdeen visit Kilmarnock. With five points to spare Hearts remain favourites to claim sixth place, and Jefferies, although dismayed by his team's defensive lapses, was pleased by the chances they created.

"There was a lot to be happy about our outfield play, but a lot to be unhappy about the silly mistakes we made," he said. "Sometimes you get away with it when the other team is not up to it, but you won't get away with it against Rangers, especially when they are going for the title. I was happy with a lot of the performance, but the mistakes cost us.

"It shouldn't have been 4-1, but because of the gifts that we gave away it was 4-1. We beat ourselves."

The injury problems which have harried Jefferies since he took over at Tynecastle in January flared up again before the game. Janos Balogh was unable to play in goal after damaging a wrist in training and it is not certain when he will be back.

Winger Andrew Driver, who returned from injury for the Edinburgh derby a week earlier, could not play against Rangers because of tendinitis despite having extra rest after the win over Hibs.