Source: Team_Talk
Jambos' Black kept on believing
Ian Black insists Hearts have never stopped believing they could finish above Hibernian - even when they were 18 points behind their rivals.[LNB] David Obua's last-gasp winner in Saturday's final Edinburgh derby of the campaign moved the Jambos to within three points of Hibs with two Scottish Premier League games remaining.[LNB]The 2-1 victory at Easter Road keeps alive Hearts' hopes of leapfrogging their city rivals into fifth place and snatching a possible Europa League spot in the process.[LNB]That was something which appeared impossible back on December 19 when Hibs were being tipped to split the Old Firm and the Jambos were in danger of sinking to the foot of the table.[LNB]But the Leith side's miserable run of two wins from 15 league games - including an ongoing sequence of six straight defeats - means there is all to play for going into the final week of the SPL season.[LNB]Hearts midfielder Black, who joined his boyhood idols last summer, said: "Everybody has their ups and downs and we never say we're out of anything until it's finished.[LNB]"We've worked hard, we've got results - been grinding them out.[LNB]"We're always positive."[LNB]Black is desperate to make amends for this term's brief Europa League campaign, which saw Hearts fall to Dinamo Zagreb at the first hurdle.[LNB]"I got a wee taste of it at the start of the season against Zagreb and I really enjoyed it," he said.[LNB]"It's great for the club, the fans and the team.[LNB]"It'd be great to bring it back."[LNB]He added: "We came here to get three points to give us that chance.[LNB]"We've done that. We've got two games left and if we can pick up maximum points there, we've definitely got a shout."[LNB]Black believes Hearts' never-say-die attitude was also in evidence yesterday as they staged a late fightback to steal the points at Easter Road.[LNB]Anthony Stokes appeared to have applied the coup de grace to the visitors' European hopes when he scored a hotly-disputed penalty early in the second half.[LNB]But substitute Suso Santana and Obua capitalised on defensive errors in the final 12 minutes to send the travelling supporters into raptures.[LNB]"We knew if we worked hard, we'd get a chance," Black said.[LNB]"When the chances came, we took them.[LNB]"We got the rewards at the end."[LNB]Crucial to Saturday's victory was the substitutions of manager Jim Jefferies, who threw on Calum Elliot and Suso for the final half-hour.[LNB]Black said: "He knows when to make a decision and who to bring on at the right time."[LNB]Meanwhile, Jamie MacDonald revealed he climbed out of his sickbed to play yesterday due to injuries to three of his fellow goalkeepers.[LNB]"If there's anything to get you out your sickbed, it's a derby," MacDonald told Hearts.TV.[LNB]"The adrenaline helps you get through it."[LNB]Opposite number Graeme Smith denied Hibs had forgotten how to win, despite being on their worst run for 13 years.[LNB]"I don't want to use a bad word - but it's a four-letter word," he said when that was put to him.[LNB]"It's not a confidence thing either. You see the way we played in the first half and what changed?[LNB]"You saw a Hibs team that passed the ball. It was a good game of football."[LNB]Asked what was needed to rescue the club's season, Smith said: "Balls. It takes a little bit of luck, and you just get on with it.[LNB]"Football changes that quickly that next week we could all be jumping about again and thinking, 'Let's kick on again'."[LNB]
