Gretna v Hearts preview
by Brian Etherson, 13 May 2008
Gretna will bow out of The SPL tonight and possibly into oblivion when they play their final game of the season against Hearts, and for the capital outfit, it will be the last time the supporters will see quite a few of these players in a maroon jersey as a summer clear-out looms.
Taking anything out of the game tonight will allow the players and management to walk into the unknown with their heads held high as it was crucial, not just for Gretna but for Scottish football, that the relegated side fulfilled their fixtures to save the league descending into complete anarchy.
After Hearts lost to Kilmarnock at the weekend they will be desperate to give their supporters something to cheer about after another mass walkout of the supporters commenced on Saturday when it was clear Jim Jefferies had got one over his old club.
Gretna have conceded 21 goals in their last ten games but surprisingly have managed four draws in their last five games, including three clean sheets which proves this game really is a potential banana skin for Stevie Frail’s side.
Gretna have managed three draws in their four previous meetings with Hearts, one of which was the Scottish Cup final in May 2006 when the Tynecastle side required extra-time and penalties to see off a very stubborn Gretna side.
The last game produced a 2-0 win for Hearts and they need to win tonight to stop the curtain falling on their campaign with another defeat to add to the games lost against Kilmarnock and Falkirk respectively.
A win for The Jambos will elevate them into seventh place, putting the pressure on Falkirk to get a result away to Kilmarnock on Saturday if they are to knock Hearts down a place in the final league standings.
A win for Mick Wadsworth’s side would give them their fourth home victory of the season and allow them to depart with their pride and dignity intact, the major motivational factor in the game tonight for Gretna, who have a fully fit squad for the game.
Christophe Berra will again be left to watch the game from the main stand as he is one booking away from missing the start of next season.
Christian Nade, Calum Elliot, Robbie Neilson and Andrew Driver are all injured and Lithuanian Saulius Mikoliunas will not feature.