Hearts V Dundee at Tynecastle Stadium : Match Preview

01 September 2012 13:31
Barr looks back in bid to move forward Hearts midfielder Darren Barr is determined to take their Anfield form into their Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Dundee. Hearts almost took Liverpool to extra-time in their Europa League play-off when David Templeton struck a late opener, but Luis Suarez equalised to hand the Reds a 2-1 aggregate win. A young Hearts side emerged with great credit from the two legs though and Barr believes they have given themselves a yardstick for the league form. The former Falkirk player said: "We have to pick ourselves up. We have set the standards and we have given the fans and our country a show. "We've gained a bit more respect, maybe, from our own people. "I think we need to take that into tomorrow's game. That is our league campaign, our bread and butter, so we need to do the business." While Hearts were giving Liverpool a fright this week, Dundee were on the receiving end of a shock as they lost to Queen's Park in the Scottish Communities League Cup. Dundee have yet to score in the SPL this season and sit bottom of the table but Barr said: "There is never an easy game. Especially after that, there will never be an easy game. "You only get out what you put in. That is the main thing, no matter who you are playing. "We want to kick on from it now and do it in the league as well." Dundee boss Barry Smith insists morale is still high going into tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at Hearts despite their winless start to the season. The newly-promoted Dark Blues have had a harsh lesson in their opening four games as they still chase their first win as well as their first goal since moving back up to the top flight. But Smith is adamant his players are in fine fettle and will head to Tynecastle optimistic of getting that elusive victory which he hopes can kick-start their season. He said: "We're all in this together and there's no way we're feeling down about ourselves. "The lads have had a tough few weeks but even so the dressing room is in good spirits. "It's very important to stay positive because things can change in football so quickly. "We're just getting on with the job in hand, which means we go to Hearts and try to get a positive result. "There's no doom and gloom. We're a tight-knit group who're all pulling together for the same thing." Smith was pleased to see striker Steven Milne end their goal-drought in midweek, even though they lost their Scottish Communities League Cup tie to Queens Park. And he hopes others follow suit as they aim to start climbing up the SPL table and proving they can cut it in the top flight. Smith said: "It was obviously good for Steven to score and we need to have more of a cutting edge in front of goal. "It would be worse if we were not creating chances during games. "But we have been making opportunities so hopefully we can start converting them to give ourselves a better chance all-round. Dundee defender Neil McGregor is battling to be fit despite suffering a broken nose during the Queens tie. But Nicky Riley (hamstring), Kyle Bendictus (leg), and Mark Stewart (knee) all look like being sidelined along with long-term crocks Lewis Toshney (hamstring), Kevin McBride (foot), and Carl Finnegan (knee).

Hearts V Dundee - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.

Source: PA