Kilmarnock 2 v 4 Hearts
A tricky away game for our first match of the season...despite falling behind we managed to get ourselves back in the match almost immediately thanks to...Rudi. Who else? GB "motivated" the boys at half time and in the second half we were given a glimpse of what Burley wanted to provide for us.
It was a terrific match.
You could tell that this season was going to be different from before kick off...Hearts fans stretching as far as the eye could see. Bus loads, car loads and peope travelling on the train; all desperate to see the start of the Romanov Revolution.
Hearts 4 v 0 Hibernian
Does it get any better than this?
Burleys Demolition Derby.
It is always fun to beat the Hibs...but to blow them away so convincingly is especially sweet.
One of the best Derby performances of recent years...up there with MDVs debut.
Dunde Utd 0 v 3 Hearts
A trip to Tannadice to face a "rejuvenated" United...a certain L. Miller having pledged his services to the tangerine hordes in the summer.
Another thrashing for one of our "third spot" challengers.
Hearts 2 v 0 Aberdeen
According to orange faced Calderwood we were basically a long ball outfit.
Fool.
Another two goals...another clean sheet and the "Ultras" were sent home with their fluffy white tails tucked firmly between their legs.
Hearts 2 v 1 Motherwell
2-0 up and looking good against a team who had proved, well, tricky throughout all of last season!
A penalty and they are right back in it.
Then a save that will be the best of the season from Scotlands best goalkeeper.
A fine afternoons work!
Livingston 1 v 4 Hearts
Livingston rooted at the bottom of the table without a win.
What better way to kick-start their season than with 3 points against Hearts?
That is exactly what would have happened in seasons gone by isn't it?
Not this time.
Burleys boys hammered them into submission in the first half and took a bit of a breather in the second half.
Inverness CT 0 v 1 Hearts
Horrible weather.
Horrible ground.
Horrible little club.
Workmanlike performance.
Another 3 points in the bag.
Job done!
Hearts 1 v 0 Rangers
Oh yes my friends.
We all remember this!
The Sons of William ride into Tynecastle and whip the insurgents back into submission.
At least that was the theory...the truth of the matter was that big Roman Bednar scored the goal that secured us 3 points against one of the OF in a game that mattered for the first time in ages!
Bednar goes off injured.
Fysass goes off injured.
Pospisil isn't fit yet.
Do we buckle?
Nope.
Falkirk 2 v 2 Hearts
2 - 0 down with minutes to go.
The captain has scored an own goal.
John "yogi" Hughes is rubbing his hands with delight.
Chick Young is writing the obituary.
What?
We've fought back to draw the match and remain unbeaten?
Brilliant!
Celtic 1 v 1 Hearts
So we arrive at the Fortress of Darkness.
Lambs to the slaughter.
How often have you ever been to Parkhead and been able to taunt the green and white hordes with a chant of "We are UNBEATABLE" or "We shall not be moved"?
I'll tell you...once, last Saturday.
Did it feel good?
I know. I know.
So now we have Dunfermline at Tynecastle to round off the opening of the season.
Can we beat them?
Yes, of course we can and more importantly I think we will beat them.
Now though...can we replicate this opening over the next quarter of the season?
Killie are playing well...they can score goals and they can "mix it" too.
But at home we should be confident of a result.
Same should go for Dundee Utd at home and ICT.
What about the away games?
Hibs, Rangers, Motherwell and Aberdeen?
Can we really go to Easter Road and Ibrox and come away with a point or even all three?
In my head I know we have to lose at some point...it isn't realistic to expect that we can just keep on winning/drawing every week.
But you know, I feel confident going into all of these games.
For the first time in my football life I really believe we can win every game.
That alone makes everything Romanov and Burley have done worthwhile.
They've given us hope and belief.
Many thanks to 'Mozzer' for that input.