Source: Team_Talk
Hearts boss seeks same reaction
Jim Jefferies hopes Saturday's Edinburgh derby proves a case of deja vu for his Hearts side following their defeat to Motherwell.[LNB] Jambos boss Jefferies was "raging" with his players after last weekend's loss to one of their Europa League rivals.[LNB]The result left Hearts' hopes of a second successive season in Europe hanging by a thread and they must beat Hibernian to retain realistic hope of a top-five finish.[LNB]Jefferies is keeping his fingers crossed the Motherwell defeat proves an omen as last month's derby victory at Tynecastle was immediately preceded by an identical result against Craig Brown's men.[LNB]The Hearts boss wants his players to run out at Easter Road still feeling the pain of that loss and use it as motivation to resurrect their Europa League challenge.[LNB]He said: "I hope they'll be hurting about last week's performance, like they were the last time we played Motherwell and they came out and did something about it against Hibs.[LNB]"Hopefully, I'll get the same reaction."[LNB]Jefferies, who a week ago described the Motherwell game as Hearts' biggest of the run-in, accepts the result on Saturday will ultimately determine where they finish.[LNB]"There's no doubt about that after slipping up last week," he said. "Saturday you would have to say is our last chance.[LNB]"They're in catching distance with three games to go, so we'll try to catch them. If we don't then we're not good enough so I've got to change that in the summer for next year to make sure that we are good enough."[LNB]The Motherwell defeat prompted Jefferies to declare he had learned more about his players than in all his other games in charge put together.[LNB]But, despite his ire, he admits it is an achievement in itself to be within striking range of Hibs, considering how far ahead John Hughes' men were three months ago.[LNB]"Nobody ever thought that we'd be above Hibs," Jefferies said.[LNB]"That in itself should be an incentive to have a go because if you get within three points of them with two games to go then there's always a chance.[LNB]"If we don't, we take it on the chin, we're in the top six and plenty to build on."[LNB]Jefferies also leapt to the defence of Hughes, who enjoyed a stellar start at boyhood idols Hibs but is in the midst of a five-match losing run which has capped a spectacular collapse in the last two months.[LNB]Jefferies said: "They got a fantastic start to the season, they've not had such a good run lately but John knows that.[LNB]"What people have got to realise with John Hughes is that it's his first year in there, he's brought a lot of people to the club.[LNB]"If they finish in the top four - which they've still got a chance of doing - it'll have been a really good season for them.[LNB]"Nobody should be criticising him at all."[LNB]But Jefferies' sympathy for the man he brought into the professional game at Berwick does not extend to letting him off the hook.[LNB]"Hibs always start the season looking to finish above us and vice versa," said Jefferies, who is looking forward to being the villain at Easter Road.[LNB]"John would have loved to have been a villain at Tynecastle, so that goes without saying.[LNB]"If you're a Jambo, you love beating Hibs, and if you're a Hibs supporter, you love beating the Jambos.[LNB]"That'll never, ever change."
