Source: FOOTYMAD
Not an expected appointment
Jim Jeffries did not expect to see Willie Collum for a while but he will see him again on Saturday. Jim Jefferies was disappointed to see the SFA appoint Willie Collum as referee for Saturday's game against Hibs. JJ still feels agrieved that Collum refused to overturn his decision to send off Laryea Kingston in the 1-0 game at Aberdeen. With more than enough tension due to be in the air come Saturday, Jefferies hopes the official is more inclined to keep his cards in his pocket for what is expected to be the usual "blood-and-thunder" affair at Tynecastle. Diplomatically as possible, JJ said: "I'm a bit surprised we get someone so quickly after that but I don't control the referees. He's down as one of the better ones (referees) and hopefully the game's played hard but fair and he lets the game run smoothly. It'll be like all derbies, blood-and-thunder stuff. There'll be a little bit more bite in the game. So I hope the referee realises what an important game it is and doesn't come out with a frenzy of yellow cards." JJ will be in charge of his first derby game since he returned to Tynecastle in January and will see the boyhood fan and former captain square off against a man with just as many links to Hibs, John Hughes. The pair's relationship goes all the way back to Berwick Rangers in 1988 when Hughes - then a player - did not exactly welcome Jefferies' appointment as manager. But they have since become firm friends, working together again at Falkirk before pitting their wits against each other when Jefferies was in charge of Kilmarnock and Hughes was Bairns boss. Jeffries said: "I know he'll be wanting to win and he knows really well how badly I want to win. You thought you'd seen the back of them! This game comes along, it always adds a little bit of spice. We all know what it means to everyone connected with both clubs. Hibs will be trying hard but we're at home, we've got to take the initiative. We need to get a win - not just to get the bragging rights - but we need to get a win to try to get into the top six. If we have to motivate anybody to play in this game then they just shouldn't be in football. I'm sure John doesn't see it as problem and I'm hoping not to see it is a problem."
