uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
Ryan Stevenson has rubbished suggestions that Hearts 'roll over' to Rangers.
Robbie Neilson's men were outclassed at Tynecastle on Wednesday night as Michael Beale's side eased to a 3-0 win to move 19 points clear of the Gorgie side. The Jambos have conceded 12 goals against Rangers without scoring themselves in the last five meetings between the two outfits and Stevenson has dismissed Celtic fans claiming that Hearts don't turn up against the Ibrox side.
Similar accusations have been aimed towards Aberdeen when they've faced Celtic in recent seasons but Stevenson reckons it's 'absolute' nonsense. The 38-year-old believes that the Old Firm actually raise their game when they head to Tynecastle and argued claims of the opposite are a 'total myth' and a 'bit insulting'.
It's probably a west of Scotland thing. Hearts lose to Rangers and it’s Celtic fans who make it out the Jambos always roll over to the Ibrox men.
"You get the same talk from the blue half of Glasgow when Aberdeen take on the Hoops. But, having been in that Hearts dressing room, I can assure you it’s absolute nonsense. It’s a total myth. It’s also a bit insulting. When I was at the club the games against the Old Firm were the ones you were desperate to do well in.
"It didn’t matter if there were Rangers or Celtic fans in the dressing room. Everyone knew they were playing for a big club and nothing else mattered. I was lucky to get a few decent results against them myself and there’s no better feeling than bloodying the noses of the big two.
But it’s not easy, that’s for sure. I know Hearts have not had the best run against Rangers of late with seven defeats on the spin. But I have no doubts they will be absolutely gutted at the 3-0 defeat the other night. They would have seen the game as a chance to make a real statement, back up their good form and take a major step towards narrowing the gap to second
Instead it was a major disappointment. Celtic fans might want to make it about them but Hearts will have been thinking about nothing but themselves and it will have felt like a setback.
"But don’t give us this chat about not turning up against Rangers. It wasn’t so long ago Hearts put Steven Gerrard’s Light Blues out of the Scottish Cup.
When both sides were in the Championship it was Hearts who were top dogs. But you have to remember, it’s not just Hearts players who are up for it when Rangers and Celtic come to town.
"The Old Firm know they are in for a game when they go to Tynecastle. It’s a fixture they are wary of and they relish the chance to play in such a tremendous atmosphere
Rangers and Celtic fans talk about other clubs raising their games against their rivals but the truth is, the Old Firm raise THEIR game when they come to Gorgie. It’s because they know they will need to be at their best to get a result."
Robbie Neilson's men were outclassed at Tynecastle on Wednesday night as Michael Beale's side eased to a 3-0 win to move 19 points clear of the Gorgie side. The Jambos have conceded 12 goals against Rangers without scoring themselves in the last five meetings between the two outfits and Stevenson has dismissed Celtic fans claiming that Hearts don't turn up against the Ibrox side.
Similar accusations have been aimed towards Aberdeen when they've faced Celtic in recent seasons but Stevenson reckons it's 'absolute' nonsense. The 38-year-old believes that the Old Firm actually raise their game when they head to Tynecastle and argued claims of the opposite are a 'total myth' and a 'bit insulting'.
It's probably a west of Scotland thing. Hearts lose to Rangers and it’s Celtic fans who make it out the Jambos always roll over to the Ibrox men.
"You get the same talk from the blue half of Glasgow when Aberdeen take on the Hoops. But, having been in that Hearts dressing room, I can assure you it’s absolute nonsense. It’s a total myth. It’s also a bit insulting. When I was at the club the games against the Old Firm were the ones you were desperate to do well in.
"It didn’t matter if there were Rangers or Celtic fans in the dressing room. Everyone knew they were playing for a big club and nothing else mattered. I was lucky to get a few decent results against them myself and there’s no better feeling than bloodying the noses of the big two.
But it’s not easy, that’s for sure. I know Hearts have not had the best run against Rangers of late with seven defeats on the spin. But I have no doubts they will be absolutely gutted at the 3-0 defeat the other night. They would have seen the game as a chance to make a real statement, back up their good form and take a major step towards narrowing the gap to second
Instead it was a major disappointment. Celtic fans might want to make it about them but Hearts will have been thinking about nothing but themselves and it will have felt like a setback.
"But don’t give us this chat about not turning up against Rangers. It wasn’t so long ago Hearts put Steven Gerrard’s Light Blues out of the Scottish Cup.
When both sides were in the Championship it was Hearts who were top dogs. But you have to remember, it’s not just Hearts players who are up for it when Rangers and Celtic come to town.
"The Old Firm know they are in for a game when they go to Tynecastle. It’s a fixture they are wary of and they relish the chance to play in such a tremendous atmosphere
Rangers and Celtic fans talk about other clubs raising their games against their rivals but the truth is, the Old Firm raise THEIR game when they come to Gorgie. It’s because they know they will need to be at their best to get a result."
