It's probably a west of Scotland thing. Hearts lose to Rangers and it’s Celtic fans who make it out the Jambos always roll over to the Ibrox men.
You get the same talk from the blue half of Glasgow when Aberdeen take on the Hoops. But, having been in that Hearts dressing room, I can assure you it’s absolute nonsense. It’s a total myth. It’s also a bit insulting. When I was at the club the games against the Old Firm were the ones you were desperate to do well in.
It didn’t matter if there were Rangers or Celtic fans in the dressing room. Everyone knew they were playing for a big club and nothing else mattered. I was lucky to get a few decent results against them myself and there’s no better feeling than bloodying the noses of the big two. But it’s not easy, that’s for sure. I know Hearts have not had the best run against Rangers of late with seven defeats on the spin. But I have no doubts they will be absolutely gutted at the 3-0 defeat the other night. They would have seen the game as a chance to make a real statement, back up their good form and take a major step towards narrowing the gap to second.
Instead it was a major disappointment. Celtic fans might want to make it about them but Hearts will have been thinking about nothing but themselves and it will have felt like a setback.
But don’t give us this chat about not turning up against Rangers. It wasn’t so long ago Hearts put Steven Gerrard’s Light Blues out of the Scottish Cup.
When both sides were in the Championship it was Hearts who were top dogs. But you have to remember, it’s not just Hearts players who are up for it when Rangers and Celtic come to town.
The Old Firm know they are in for a game when they go to Tynecastle. It’s a fixture they are wary of and they relish the chance to play in such a tremendous atmosphere.
Rangers and Celtic fans talk about other clubs raising their games against their rivals but the truth is, the Old Firm raise THEIR game when they come to Gorgie. It’s because they know they will need to be at their best to get a result.
That’s what happened the other night. Rangers were right on it and it was another tough one to take.
It’s not gone Hearts’ way in the encounters of late but that’s more down to the progress at Ibrox. My old club have made huge progress as well.
When you think about where they were two years ago to where they are now, it’s extraordinary, the fact they were disappointed not to get a result against Rangers says it all.
I get the frustration. Ten games unbeaten, new signings looking the part and hopes about cutting into the gap to second spot while pulling clear of the pack behind.
It was a big night for Hearts. It just didn’t go to plan and it was perhaps a bit of a reality check. Getting closer to the Old Firm is brutally hard. You just have to look at the financial gulf.
The difference between a guy on two grand a week and £20k a week is huge. We’re talking about going up against £5million signings.
It’s no mean feat to finish third, by the way. Just ask Hibs, Aberdeen and Dundee United how tough it is to be better than everyone else in a cutthroat league.
Hearts need to dust themselves down but I’ve got no doubt they will. I wouldn’t bet against my old club putting together another 10- match unbeaten run.
Hearts won’t be rolling over to the Old Firm – they will get back in the race to catch them.
