Paulo Sergio has found some talent in the depth of his pool

Danny Grainger is optimistic that the form shown down at White Hart Lane this week can provide a boost to league form, starting with today's derby against Hibs. Spurs were held to a goalless draw in the second leg of their Europa League tie by a youthful Hearts side, with the likes of Scott Robinson and Gordon Smith impressing. Hearts have won just once in five SPL games this season but have been encouraged by maintaining clean sheets in successive draws against Kilmarnock and Spurs. And Grainger feels the strength in depth in the squad, which was evident in north London, combined with the settling down of the squad following the managerial change three games into the season, offers hope for Hearts.

The left back said: "Gordon Smith was fantastic for a young lad coming in against two fantastic centre-halves. He was unbelievable and hopefully now he can kick on and start helping us get results in the league, starting on Sunday. Hearts last year, apart from when they got injuries, they were with Celtic and Rangers all the time so hopefully with the strength in depth we have this season we can push them a bit further now. We have had two clean sheets in a row now in two hard away games and on Sunday we'll have more confidence now and hopefully we will get the right result.''

Jim Jefferies brought Grainger in from St Johnstone in the summer but has since been replaced by Paulo Sergio. But Grainger feels the players have fully accepted the Portuguese manager. He said: "It's part and parcel of football. "You can't moan about these kind of things. You just have to get on with it. The manager has different ways of approaching games and training but we have adapted to it and we have got on with it.''