WE didn't get 2014 off to a winning start at Parkhead on Wednesday, but it was still a good beginning to the year for us as we get set for a number of really big games coming up in the next few weeks.

Myself and Alan Archibald were delighted with the way the boys conducted themselves against Celtic, especially coming off the back of what was probably the worst performance since we took over against Motherwell just a couple of days before.

We got the reaction we wanted and I think we deserved to take something from the game and were unlucky to lose 1-0 on the day.

The result was, of course, disappointing but there were so many positives we can take from it and we need to carry that into what is a massive month for us that will see us play Hearts, Ross County, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and St Mirren.

This is a really important stage of the season and you just have to look at Killie, who have had a couple of wins recently, to see how quickly things can change as you move a couple of places up the table.

Those wins will have given them a lot of confidence and we are desperate for that to happen to us. I am sure it will.

Apart from the Motherwell game, our play in general this season has been very good.

There are games where we haven't taken our chances but that will change.

Overall, our play has been very good, but the big thing now is for us to convert the chances we are making.

Confidence is still high in the squad and we are really looking forward to the series of big games coming up.

Last year proved to be a great one for everyone at the club as we won the First Division and got ourselves back into the top flight, but 2014 will be even better if we can retain our place in the Premiership.

A lot of people had us written off but when you consider that most of the squad had never played in this league before, the lads deserve a lot of credit for how they have went about their business.

If we can finish 10th this season, it will be a fantastic one for us. That is not being negative. We are trying to be realistic.Yes, we could be sitting higher up the table, but most clubs will think that.

We will keep going the way we have been and fingers crossed we will get the results that our performances deserve, hopefully starting tomorrow at Tynecastle.

Myself and Alan were at the Edinburgh derby on Thursday night and you could see the effort the Hearts lads put in.

They worked their socks off for 90 minutes and you can see the team spirit within the squad. It will be a really tough game for us tomorrow.

They will be looking at us and thinking they have a chance of a home win. We will have to be at our very best to come away with the result we want.

We added Lyle Taylor to the squad last week and I am confident he will prove to be a really good signing for us. I thought he did really well against Celtic and he gives us a different option up front.

He leads the line well, he likes to get in behind, he is strong and he is quick.

We are delighted to have him here and hopefully we can add a couple more players before the window shuts at the end of the month.