Alex Cochrane Q&A: 100 Hearts games and Rowles relationship

The wing-back looked back on his time at Tynecastle Park when he spoke to the press on Tuesday.

Four wins in a row now, tricky game to make it five? 

Yeah, that’s the aim, we know it’s going to be a tough game, we’ve played them twice already this season.  Felt we should have got something from Ibrox but it wasn’t meant to be and obviously the Cup semi-final it’s just one of those games where they were probably better than us on the day. We’re looking to make it five on th eboune, keep this winning run going but we know it’s not going to be easy, they’re a top side and it's going to be a tough game for us. 

Do you feel you are getting close to beating Rangers? 

The team is growing with confidence every week and every game. These are the tests for us now, against the Old Firm. We need to prove ourselves against them. We played Celtic at Tynecastle and didn’t make it as difficult as we wanted it to be so tomorrow night we’ll be looking to make it a tougher test for Rangers and obviously we’re full of confidence and looking forward to the game ahead. 

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Do you think there has been an aspect of having been beaten in the tunnel against the Old Firm?

For me, I don’t think it’s being beaten in the tunnel, beaten before the game. I think we know the task in hand, we know what Rangers are and what Celtic are for that matter they are top sides. We know we have to be on it in all aspects of our game and as a team collectively we’ve got to stick together in the tough moments of the game. But we’ve just got to grind them out and when we’ve got chances to score we’ve got to take them. 

What's it like being part of a really solid defensive unit?

It’s been good. The first season I was here we had that. I think last season we kind of lost that a little bit through injuries and other bits. I think this season, that’s our focus as defenders to make sure we get clean sheets and we know we’ve got the attacking ability to go against teams and score goals. In the past couple of weeks we’ve had to show a bit of resilience in our defence. The weekend just gone against Killie away, we know there could have been balls in the box and we had to keep up our fight and desire to keep the ball out the back of the net. But Wednesday night, we know that Rangers have got a very good attacking foot and we need to be on our A game for that, and we will be looking to get another clean sheet and keep our defensive record solid. 

For yourself, do you prefer the wing-back role with the protection of Kye Rowles behind?

Me and Kye have got a good relationship and I think since we’ve gone through that back five it’s allowed me to go a bit more forward, take more chances and that’s what I want to be doing with me game but at the same time I know I’ve got defensive duties, to get back in and help out. It’s enjoyable but if the gaffer said we’re going to change systems, I’ll happily change into a different formation. It’s been good for me personally having that attacking side to my game. 

Did you think that when you came up here on loan from Brighton that you’d stay and go onto make 100 appearances?

No, I’ve literally just got told! That’s absolutely blown by. 100 games for this club is a big achievement and it’s something I had an eye on at the back end of last season because I knew I’d played quite a few games I wanted to make sure I’d get to 100. I’ll be looking to play as many games as I can, I’ve still got a couple of years left here and I’m enjoying myself. When I first came up here I just wanted to play football and to see that hopefully tomorrow night will be 100 games is obviously a big milestone and proud moment. 

Does anything stick out from that first game and how much you have changed as a player?

I feel like I have changed, felt it within myself. More maturity about my game. When I first came, men's football was new to me. I had a little taste in Belgium. When I came up here there was still naivety in my game and to be fair even now there probably still is, but I have learnt as I have gone on that there's maturity that comes with it and I have enjoyed it. I think that is the most important thing for me. Wherever I went I wanted to make sure I played games and enjoyed it. I've done that.

Can you remember that first game?

Well my first competitive game was Peterhead away. That was an experience in itself walking onto the pitch, no water, dry as anything, grass long. Even to the first league game, playing Celtic at home. There's no better game to open up to. I think there was 5,000 fans there but it felt like a lot more. That was one of my highlights since I've been up here. It's flown by but I have enjoyed it. 

It is a sharp contrast, Peterhead then Celtic. Was it 'what have I done here?'

I knew a little about the League Cup format. I didn't know about Peterhead. I have played a few games down south where you turn up to the stadiums and think 'what's this, I'm not used to it'. At the end of the day it is just a game of football but it seems a long time ago that.

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Did you wonder when the bus was ever going to get to Peterhead?

There were a few country roads we went down where I thought 'where on earth are we?' That's all part of football, you go to all sorts of places.

Can you remember the score?

I think we won 2-0. I got subbed off in maybe the 75th minute.

What are the standout moments from your 99 games?

The European trips have got to be up there. Playing Riga away, the win. You play Fiorentina, Istanbul, even the one at Rosenborg this season. Also the cup semi-final against Hibs, seeing how much it meant to the fans was a big highlight. At the time that was the biggest game I had been involved in. There's definitely quite a few that stand out and I've enjoyed my time since I came up here.

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Would it be nice to cap the 100th game off with a goal, you have come close the last couple of games?

I know. I have been getting a bit of stick from the lads saying I should be tucking them away. It would be nice to get a goal, it is something I want to do this season, improve on last season's goal tally. It would be nice to top it off with a goal.

As a left-sided defender, how difficult an opponent is James Tavernier, trying to contain that and is he one of the most dangerous?

He is definitely up there. I've played against him multiple times now, I know his qualities and he's a threat in wide areas delivering and getting in at the back post. His goal record for a full-back is unbelievable so I know his threats and we know his threats as a team. It is going to be a case of going up against him again, it'll be a tough best but one I look forward to. 

No matter what side the ball is going down you are going to have to be wary of him?

Exactly that. He's got that attacking instinct within him so I've got to be wary of him.

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