Gordon as Good as Cech

Last updated : 18 April 2007 By Scott The Jambo

Hearts No2 Steve Banks doesn't think Craig Gordon has the ability be as good as Petr Cech. He thinks he already is.

The Englishman, who is widely believed to be the 3rd best stopper in the SPL behind Craig Gordon and Artur Boruc, surmised as he watched Blackburn take on Chelsea in the FA Cup Quarter Final on Sunday.

Gordon has once again been in superb form this season, pulling off numerous world class stops to boost the Jam Tart's UEFA Cup hopes. One of the most memorable saves came at Easter Road earlier this season, when Gordon somehow managed to tip Rob Jones' goal-bound header round the post in injury time to hand the Jambos a well earned point.

And Banks, who has been in fine fettle himself this season when called upon, watched on in amazement on Sunday as Cech clawed John Terry's misplaced header from beneath the Old Trafford crossbar to pull of a miraculous stop with the game poised at 1-1.

He said: "I think ability wise it's debateable whether there is any difference between them, the only difference is Petr has done it in the Premiership and Craig only has SPL experience. But his time will come. He's definately up there with the likes of Cech and Van der Sar".

Banks recently signed a new deal with Hearts to keep him in Gorgie until the end of next season.