Jefferies will not let heart rule his head

HEARTS' win over Falkirk last week, the first since the return of Jim Jefferies, brought welcome relief after a string of defeats. But the manager has warned the club's supporters that they should not see that 3-2 victory as a major turnaround, and should certainly not presume that tomorrow's home game against Hamilton will easily yield another three points.

"We said, after three away games, it was important we win these two (home] games," Jefferies explained. "Now Hamilton won't be easy.

"They went to Tannadice recently and got a 2-0 win, so that tells you how difficult it will be. Billy Reid has got them well organised to flood the middle of the park. If we can follow up and get a result that will make last week's result even better."

Having consistently said over the last few weeks that he has the nucleus of a good squad in place, Jefferies appears to believe that Hearts have underachieved, but not necessarily by much, this season.

"It was a nice positive step, but we're not getting carried away," he continued, referring to the win over Falkirk which was the first time this season Hearts had scored three times. "I thought the football was great for ten or 15 minutes once we went 3-1 up – it was all about confidence then."

Jefferies could have as many as nine players pencilled in as part of his first team next season: goalkeeper Marian Kello and a back four of Craig or Jason Thomson, Ismael Bouzid, Marius Zaliukas and Lee Wallace; central midfielders Eggert Jonsson and Ian Black and winger Andrew Driver.

An extremely long injury list as well as a drop in confidence has had an effect on Hearts, with Wallace being one of the players to have suffered most. After a niggling groin problem and foot blisters caused by new boots, however, the full-back is fit again.

"I'm back playing games, so I'm happy," he said.

"At different spells in the season my confidence and form have been up then down.

"That's natural for anyone in a football team to go through, but when your team's winning and confidence is high it can be of huge benefit to an individual. So again, after that win last week our confidence is high."

Wallace is well aware that the events the last time Hearts played Hamilton, when four Tynecastle players and an official were red-carded, were unacceptable. He is confident there will be no repeat tomorrow.

"What happened the last time was quickly brushed away," he added. "It's a game of football: it's not about what goes on outwith that. We'll be professional and try and play football."