Alexandros Kyziridis: Hearts will bounce back from Rangers defeat

Alexandros Kyziridis is adamant last Sunday’s defeat to title-rivals Rangers will not blow William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts off course.

Gers won the top-of-the-table showdown at Ibrox 4-2 to close the gap on the Jambos to just two points, sparking fresh doubts about the Edinburgh side’s ability to last the pace.

Kyziridis acknowledged the result was a blow but pointed out how Hearts had responded positively to each of their previous three league defeats this term.

“One day after I was still feeling sad, because of course you want to win every game, but it can happen to lose a game,” the Greek winger said ahead of Saturday’s visit from Falkirk. “Now I’m good, I’m focused on Saturday.

“In football, sometimes you’re going to win, sometimes you’re going to lose. You need to learn from the defeats. I’m pretty confident that every time we had a defeat, after we reacted pretty well.

“That’s why I’m confident and I believe that everything will be fine. There are 11 more games and we want to win as many as we can.

“If you are five points in front of a Rangers or two, what’s the difference? It’s the same for me (in terms of pressure). And sometimes it can be good because you need to be more focused to win the games.”

Kyziridis praised sure-footed manager Derek McInnes for the way he is leading Hearts in their quest to win the title for the first time since 1960.

“He’s good, man. Honestly, he’s good,” said the 25-year-old. “Always you’re going to have the pressure, it’s normal, we play football.

“But it’s really important to handle the pressure and I think we are in a good way and we know what we have to do.

“The players that we have, the manager we have, every small detail gives me personal belief.”

Kyziridis was one of the outstanding players in the league in the first half of the season but he acknowledged that opposition defenders doubling up on him has made it more difficult to remain as effective.

“I need to find a way how to handle it,” he said. “I think I will.”

McInnes is hopeful that January recruits Rogers Mato and Islam Chesnokov as well as record signing Ageu – hindered by injury since his arrival last summer – can start to have more of an impact in the coming weeks as they get up to speed.

“The games will help them, training helps them,” said the manager. “Consistency of training, just trying to keep up the work.

“I think there’s got to be some sort of understanding from people that these boys aren’t going to be at full pelt.

“I’m hoping all three can have a big part to play in the remaining games. They’re getting there.

“This is all new to them. It can be a bit challenging for them, in terms of the football and settling in. But when they’re training and all the rest of it, they’ve been great.”