'It's a stadium I enjoy going to' - Ex-Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley relishing his Tynecastle return to face Hearts

Livingston's Marvin Bartley is looking forward to the trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts. Picture: SNS

Ex-Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley relishes playing against Hearts.

In a recent appearance on BBC Scotland show A View from the Terrace, the Livingston star admitted that he always finds "an extra couple of percent" against the Tynecastle side.

it's backed up in the stats. In 11 appearances against Hearts for Hibs and Livi, he has been on the losing side just once.

Bartley moved to Livi from Hibs during the summer. Picture: SNS

The 33-year-old will be back at Tynecastle once more on Wednesday evening, the first time since a man was arrested for allegedly racially abusing the player back in April when Hibs ran out 2-1 winners.

In the aftermath of the incident Bartley said: "The one thing that I refuse to accept is racial abuse. So maybe it is time to take action against these small-minded, ignorant people."

However, that has not dented his enjoyment of Tynecastle, playing Hearts and the stick he receives from the support.

"It's a stadium I enjoy going to, the atmosphere is normally pretty decent although I have only played there in derby games," he told PA news agency.

"I give as good as I get. On social media, 99 per cent of it is banter and light-hearted stuff and you can accept it and get on with it, and I give as good as I get.

"The one per cent that step out of that, I have always said I don't associate those people with Hearts Football Club, I just see them as people who have jumped on social media to stir things up.

"The other 99 per cent I have a bit of banter with and it's to and fro, they are supporters. They probably dislike me because of my style of play but they never ever step across the line.

"I will probably get a bit of stick but it's light-hearted stuff and I can take it."