Hearts must swerve cliche that used to p*** Jim Jefferies off as Celtic and Rangers swing into full view - Ryan Stevenson

Jim Jefferies used to blow his top when anyone referred to our Hearts team being on a “good run”. It was a phrase that really p*****d The Jet off and he’d pin newspaper articles to the wall if a reporter had dared use it.

Jim would point to it and tell us that ‘runs’ are for average teams that aren’t used to stringing together four or five wins. Good teams just win, he’d say. And keep winning. That’s where Hearts are right now after making it eight wins on the spin and 12 without defeat. It’s sensational stuff and the fact Steven Naismith’s side are closer to top spot than fourth place says everything about the strides they have taken in the last three months.

There’s 13 points between the Jambos and leaders Rangers and 11 between my old side and Celtic in second. Turning back the way there’s now a 14 point gulf to Kilmarnock in fourth. It’s brilliant. And the direction of travel means it’s Celtic and Rangers - not Killie - that should be in their sights now. As they say, there’s a reason why the rearview mirror is so small compared to the windscreen. And with a trip across the M8 to Ibrox coming up on Saturday there’s a real chance to keep the foot down.

If I was in Naisy’s shoes this week I’d have the league table on the wall and I’d be asking the players: ‘Can we?’ How close can we get to the Old Firm? Could we even split them?

People outside of Hearts might think it’s crazy but footballers need to have goals to target. When Hearts last lost a league game, against Aberdeen on December 9, they were 19 points behind the Hoops and languishing in fifth. They’ve gained eight points on Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Unless the wheels fall off spectacularly, they are going to finish third at a canter. So it can’t be allowed to go