Source: FOOTYMAD
Attack is the best form of defence
A chance to go six games without losing a goal tonight Jim Jefferies has brought an attacking edge to Hearts which has proved the old adage that attack is the best form of defence. Jefferies style, along with his success in bringing players to the club, has resulted in their league goals tally showing 27 as Hearts consolidated third place in the table with an enjoyable 5-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday. That total is seven more than Hearts had managed by 29 January last year, when Jefferies came home to Tynecastle. Previous coach Csaba Laszlo employed a more cautious approach, although he had to work with what he had as owner Vladimir Romanov did not agree with going for his striking targets. Jefferies had no such problems, signing Stephen Elliott and Kevin Kyle in the summer to provide a new threat up front and the return of midfielder Rudi Skacel in September has delivered seven goals. With David Templeton emerging as an exciting first-team player on the flanks, Jefferies has a range of attacking options which will be further boosted when Andrew Driver and David Obua return from injury in the coming weeks. This attacking approach has not left them exposed at the back - they have conceded less goals than at the same stage last season. Jefferies said: "Hearts had been struggling for a couple of years to get goals but they are back looking like we have a bit of a cutting edge. We have some good, flair players who are getting in and getting a positive spin to create chances and win games. They say attack is the best form of defence, well we're proving that right at the moment because we are attacking teams, scoring goals and also keeping clean sheets." Hearts have scored 13 goals without reply in five successive win but Jefferies has warned that Motherwell will provide a stiff test despite the departure of management team Craig Brown and Archie Knox to Aberdeen. Motherwell comfortably won 2-0 at Tynecastle in September and are looking to peg back a six-point deficit following three postponed games. Jefferies said: "Things are looking good but this is a different game, this team are not as low in confidence as Aberdeen were, they have been consistent this year, they are a good footballing side. It's another good test for us but Motherwell know it's a test for them as well because they are meeting a team in good form with their confidence high."
