Hearts boss says draw felt ‘like a win’

Falkirk 2 Hearts 2

The Edinburgh club were looking for a ninth consecutive Bank of Scotland Premier League win, but could only scrape a last-gasp point in a remarkable match.

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon was sent off in the first-half for a professional foul on Falkirk striker Darryl Duffy, scored from the spot against substitute Steve Banks.

And when Jambos’ captain Steven Pressley put through his own goal in the 68th minute, the Edinburgh side looked to be on their way to their first SPL defeat of the season.

But Pressley quickly reduced the deficit before grabbing the equaliser in the first minute of injury time to keep Hearts three points clear of Celtic at the top of the table.

Burley said: “It does seem like a win. When you are 2-0 down away from home, then anything is a bonus so I’m very pleased.”

Burley says the club will not appeal against Gordon’s dismissal, so he will miss the trip to Celtic on October 15. The Scotland international brought down Duffy inside the area, although the Bairns’ forward appeared to be heading away from goal.

Meanwhile, Maciej Zurawski says missing out on the Champions League is acting as the inspiration for a resurgent Celtic.

Stephen McManus, Shaun Maloney, Zurawski, Chris Sutton and Craig Beattie found the net in a five-goal romp at Almondvale.

The Glasgow giants have won their last six matches since being beaten at Ibrox in the first Old Firm match of the campaign. And Zurawski insists it is elimination from Europe at the hands of Artmedia Bratislava which is spurring his team-mates on.

The result was made all the more impressive as John Hartson was demoted to the bench to accommodate Zurawski. Manager Gordon Strachan said the Wales striker needed the rest but it was no fluke that Celtic looked a different side in terms of possessing a quick, counter-attacking threat.

But the Pole expects Hartson to get back in the team. Hartson is two goals short of 100 for Celtic but Zurawski is also looking for goals after netting his fifth of the campaign yesterday.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish watched his side’s comfortable win over Dunfermline, then told his players: “It’s still not good enough.”

The champions have already dropped points to Aberdeen, Hibernian, Falkirk and Hearts.

The only real highlight has been their European campaign. They made it to the group stage of the Champions League, where they defeated Porto before losing to Inter Milan midweek.

Those displays are finally beginning to filter through to the SPL campaign and goals from Thomas Buffel, Dado Prso, Federico Nieto, Peter Lovenkrands and Ross McCormack secured the win against Dunfermline.