Source: Team_Talk
Thomson happy with split confusion
Hearts' Jason Thomson has branded the SPL split flawed - but won't complain about two more games against the Old Firm and an Edinburgh derby.[LNB] It took until the final match before the league divided in two for the Jambos to secure their place in the top six, with St Johnstone breathing down their necks and finishing just three points adrift.[LNB]There is still the very real possibility of Saints earning the points that could have seen them end the season in the top five - the likely final European spot - while remaining in seventh place.[LNB]Thomson said: "I heard on the radio St Johnstone could get enough points to be in Europe but not actually get in Europe because of the split. It doesn't really work, I don't think.[LNB]"But from a player's point of view, if you're playing against the top teams - that's what you want to do.[LNB]"You want to play against the top teams in Rangers and Celtic, and obviously we've got another derby, so it's good for the fans as well."[LNB]This season's split could hardly have worked out better for Hearts, who travel to Rangers on Sunday but see their remaining four matches take place in the capital.[LNB]"We only need to really leave Edinburgh once," said Thomson, referring to the fact their away game against Hibernian is only across the city.[LNB]"Then we've got three home games, against Motherwell, Dundee United and Celtic.[LNB]"So I think the fixtures favour us."[LNB]There are therefore no excuses for Hearts should they fail to finish the season with the kind of flourish which could see them snatch a Europa League spot.[LNB]Thomson is even eyeing arch-rivals Hibs, who appeared uncatchable two months ago but are now just six points ahead in fourth place.[LNB]"If we overtake them, we're probably going to get in Europe as well," said the 22-year-old.[LNB]As well as spoiling Hibs' European ambitions, Thomson is eager to be a party pooper at Ibrox on Sunday.[LNB]Should Celtic drop points against Hearts' arch-rivals tomorrow, Rangers would have the chance to wrap up the title in front of their own fans.[LNB]Thomson said: "We'll go there and try to get the win; you don't want to be there when they're celebrating winning the title, so we want to stop that."[LNB]Hearts will be heavy underdogs this weekend but their last visit to Ibrox in January proved they are not to be taken lightly.[LNB]Despite having Christian Nade sent off, they took a shock lead and were only undone by a stoppage-time equaliser from Andrew Little.[LNB]"We were unlucky not to get the win," said Thomson.[LNB]"We went down to 10 men and they got the goal.[LNB]"That's what good teams do. They play to the end and they score last-gasp goals."[LNB]Thomson has been first-choice right-back since Jim Jefferies became manager at the end of January.[LNB]But namesake Craig Thomson has recently returned from injury to put him under pressure.[LNB]Yet whoever gets the nod this weekend, the pair will remain firm friends.[LNB]"He's a bit younger than me but we went away on holiday last year," said the elder Thomson of a trip to Magaluf with other members of the squad.[LNB]He added of the holiday, which they plan to reprise this summer: "The less said, the better."[LNB]
