Welcome to this afternoon's Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Falkirk.

I write these notes in the after last weekend's 1-1 draw with St Mirren at Love Street, a result which once again underlined the players' character and commitment.

One of the big positives to take from Paisley was the fact our starting XI. included seven players who had come through our youth system - Robbie Neilson, Christophe Berra, Lee Wallace, Andrew Driver, Eggert Jonsson, Calum Elliot and Jamie Mole. That is something the club can be rightly proud of. I think it's fair to say that with any other team, this sort of statistic would have made the back page headlines.

Immense credit has to go to the likes of our academy director John Murray and former coach John McGlynn for the coaching the players have received throughout the various age groups. Inconsistency can be a feature with any young team but with your continued support, hopefully the younger players will see the benefit of their experiences in the seasons ahead.

A few months ago we could well have lost that St Mirren game but the players dug in and we scored a late goal to secure what could yet prove to be a very valuable point.

Results didn't go our way elsewhere, however, and we go into today's match now three points behind sixth-placed Falkirk.

Victory this afternoon is essential. The players' commitment, desire and hunger in recent months has been first class and if they can continue to show the same attitude, I am confident we can get the result we need.

We have taken 16 points from a possible 24 in our last eight games with the only teams to beat us in that time being Celtic and Rangers. That is a decent return and I'm looking to keep it going today.

Finally, I am sure you will all join me in extending the warmest of congratulations to our captain Christophe Berra following his call-up to the Scotland squad for the first time for the friendly against Croatia later this month.

C'mon the Hearts!

Stephen Frail