Zander Clark was on press duties following Heart of Midlothian's 5-0 defeat at Rangers on Saturday, a result that ended the team's 12-game unbeaten run.
The goalkeeper spoke about the disappointment of the manner of the loss, responding against Hibs at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday and the captain's armband.
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Thoughts on the match?
Obviously it’s a tough one to take. We knew it would be a fast start from Rangers with them going top of the league, but to lose a goal so early gives them an extra lift. We were backs against the wall from that. But we need to make sure we are bang at it on Wednesday, it’s a chance to get back to winning ways. We were on a great run up to this point and as a collective, we have to make sure this doesn’t derail us.
Is it the self-inflicted nature that is the annoying thing?
Yeah, the manner of the goals we conceded are disappointing. It’s not been like us. We need to make sure we get ourselves on the training pitch and back to doing what we’ve been doing for the last 12-13 games to make sure this is just a small bump in the road.
On a personal level, you made a few good saves but is that immaterial?
Yeah, that’s immaterial. I’d rather have no saves and took something from the game. It’s just frustrating the manner in which we conceded the goals is the biggest frustration as the collective.
It could still be a big week?
Absolutely. We knew coming here we would all have to be right at it. Obviously, our spirits have been high but unfortunately, we weren’t at it but we have a chance with a game coming around so quickly and we have a chance to get back to doing what we have been doing.
No better game than Hibs?
Yes, it’s a big game. We are at home. And we need to make sure we are back to what we have been in previous weeks leading up to Saturday and just be right at it.
Rangers fans were obviously buzzing with the team top of the league, did you sense that and did it add an element of difficulty?
Listen, we knew the crowd would be right behind them, as you say after going top of the league last week and with them playing the day before Celtic, we knew they would be right at it and it was up to us to try and silence them. Conceding so early on gives them an added lift and it’s a difficult one to try and get a foothold in the game. They were relentless and as I say we did not stand up to it in terms of a defensive collective as a team in terms of getting pressure on them. But that’s the level we as a club need to strive to get to and be able to turn in those performances week in, week out and I think we are almost there.
Do you feel as a squad you are closer to Rangers than that scoreline suggests?
As a collective, we know how disappointing that was from us but in the previous weeks leading up to Saturday we have shown we can compete with anyone in the league, obviously, the last time we were here and we have been to Parkhead, where we played well. It is a bump in the road but we need to make sure we pick ourselves up and get back to what we have been doing.
You got the captain's armband, was that pre-arranged with Craig Halkett not being on the pitch?
I got it last season in one of the games Shanks didn’t play in and it’s just one of those, it found its way back to me. It was not pre-arranged. It’s not up to me if I wear it or not, that’s just what has happened when I have been on the pitch and Shanks has gone off.
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