“Arguing with fourth officials, it’s just right up my street,” Martin O’Neill

Q: What have you made of how Derek McInnes has gone about his business at Hearts?

Martin O’Neill: “Terrific. It’s really been brilliant. It’s a really great, great season for them. I was going to say they’ve taken advantage of Celtic and Rangers slip-ups, but that’s not the case. They’ve driven on themselves. They’ve done it, and it’s genuinely great credit to them.”

Q: I wonder, going into this one, who your favourites for the title are at the moment?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, let me put it this way. I wish we were going into this game six points in front.”

Q: Do you anticipate any more new faces coming in before Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “I would hardly think before Sunday, but we’ve got the other week then, and I’m still very hopeful that we’ll get some people in.”

Q: How’s the juggling act of getting teams prepared, looking at opposition, but then obviously going into the last week having to knuckle down with the transfers? How’s that been for you and the team?

Martin O’Neill: “For me and the coaches here, it is a bit of a juggling act, I must admit. We’re trying to concentrate on the games ahead, which is the most important thing. Still thinking about trying to get players into the football club, players that we think can help. I think I said in a previous interview, you could add another 15 players to the squad that might not improve it one jot. So you’re trying to look for that wee bit of quality, trying to get value for money, if that’s the case. All of those particular things go into it. And I must admit, it wasn’t something I was thinking about on the 1st of January. It really wasn’t. Welcoming in the new year, I had a brilliant Hogmanay, even though it wasn’t in Edinburgh.”

Q: I can imagine you miss the thrill of winning games, being on the touchline, because that seems enjoyable. Is it enjoyable to try and navigate a transfer window?

Martin O’Neill: “The transfer window, I thought you were going to ask me if I enjoy the football matches. No, I haven’t enjoyed that for 30 years. But yeah, I do, of course I miss the game, absolutely. It’s a pleasure, sometimes a dubious one, but it’s a real pleasure to be back and doing something that you actively loved in many aspects and missed. And just to be on the touchline, arguing with fourth officials, it’s just right up my street.”

Q: What are your memories of Tynecastle from your first spell? Is that like a bear pit for games like these?

Martin O’Neill: “I think so, yeah. It has a great, great atmosphere. It’s fiery, it’s great. I think I used to say here, outside Ibrox, it was the most intimidating place to go. And I think it will be a wonderful atmosphere.

Q: In your experience, Martin, when you have these top-of-the-table tussles and you do get the win, psychologically, in your experience, what does that do, not only for yourself, but for the opposition as you look ahead to the run in?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think the recent games for us, we chopped and changed the side, and that was down to me for the Scottish Cup match. And then we come up with a big performance here. So the players are in good spirits. And I take your point entirely about the length of time that you have between travelling home last night, getting in early morning, and getting up again for the game. They’ll be up for the game. And that’s maybe a time where substitutions might play their part. But yeah, it’s really exciting.”

Watch Martin O’Neill’s Media Conference below and if you’ve not read Sandman’s Definitive Ratings from last night’s match in Bologna they’re on the next page…