Jefferies puzzled by St Mirren plight

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies admits he finds it strange that Saturday's opponents St Mirren are once again battling relegation. While the Gorgie side travel to Paisley looking to cement their top-six place in the SPL, the Buddies are in 10th spot and only five points ahead of bottom side Falkirk.Asked what he thought of Gus MacPherson's side, who recently lost the Co-operative Insurance Cup final to Rangers after beating Hearts in the semi-final, the Tynecastle boss said: "I have found it strange."Gus has built up a great squad of players on limited resources. He has improved them every year and for some reason they keep having to fight relegation."I watched them in the Co-op Cup final and even Rangers said they should have won the game but it all went against them."But to pick those players up and beat Celtic last week shows that they are capable."They played well against us in the semi-final - the best I'd seen them play this season - so on their day they can beat anybody."We know it won't be easy so we will have to be up for it."Jefferies admits losing out on a top-six spot this season would mean failure.The Jambos are two points ahead of seventh-placed St Johnstone, who face Dundee United and Aberdeen in their last two games before the split, while Hearts take on struggling St Mirren and Kilmarnock.Jefferies, who only arrived at Tynecastle for his second spell as boss following the departure of Csaba Laszlo in January, accepts that fans should expect a top-half finish.He said: "It was a case of coming in and trying to get into the top six and assess the players for next season."I thought we would have secured the top-six spot weeks ago but we had to chop and change, although that's something we have to contend with."Hearts set out at the start of the season with a target of being in a certain place and if they don't make it then of course they have failed."So it's up to the players. It is in their own hands and they have to show what it is to be at a club like Hearts."Top six means a lot to the club; bigger gates, another derby against Hibs and games against Rangers and Celtic."But for our own personal pride Hearts should be in the top six."They have to take that on board but I think the team is strong enough to get the two results."

Source: Team_Talk