Hearts manager Paulo Sergio faces a challenging period of fixtures without first-choice goalkeeper Marian Kello.
Hearts host Celtic at Tynecastle on Wednesday and travel to Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, before a William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at St Johnstone after yesterday's 1-1 draw.
Sergio revealed Kello, who reportedly turned down a transfer deadline day move to Austria Vienna, missed the match due to a "political" issue with the club's board.
Now Sergio is set to be forced to continue with Jamie MacDonald in goal against Neil Lennon's title-chasing Celtic at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening.
Sergio attributed Hearts' below-par showing in the draw to the disrupted rhythm of the fixture schedule, with his side going without a game for two weeks prior to the Saints match. Hearts now face four games in 10 days.
"It's not going to be easy, but I hope with the commitment of everybody we'll be able to do our job well," Sergio said on Hearts TV.
Sergio was unhappy with his side's display and knows improvement will be needed in the next three games and to advance in the cup at McDiarmid Park.
He added: "I'm not pleased with the performance of our team. We are able to do better, especially against 10 men.
"We should have done better. We need to do better if we want to stay in the cup.
"We have to be positive and we have to think we are able to beat this team."
As well as facing the prospect of being without Kello - unless a resolution is found - David Templeton may also be absent with a groin problem.
Templeton, who scored the opening goal, said: "I'm struggling. As I went to toe-poke a shot away I overstretched a tendon. Hopefully it will be okay for Wednesday."
The winger is aware it is a crucial period for Hearts.
He added: "We'll need to be at our best to try and get points against Celtic and Kilmarnock and be at our best at St Johnstone."
While Hearts' performance failed to please Sergio, his St Johnstone counterpart Steve Lomas hailed the character of his team.
Cillian Sheridan's equaliser came four minutes after Dave Mackay had been sent off for two bookable offences.
Lomas said: "I never doubt my boys' fighting spirit. They're an absolute credit to themselves and their profession.
"It's an absolutely great trait to have - team spirit, camaraderie.
"There's no coaching session for that. It comes from within and it comes from the type of characters the players are.
"And they've got it in spades."
Sheridan said: "I don't want to get too greedy and say we should've won, but it definitely gives us confidence for the next game."
Post Comment
