Hearts

In the cauldron of Tynecastle Park, it was the calm head of Stuart Findlay that sent the Jambos on their way to back-to-back wins over rivals Rangers, and for the Hearts defender, the latest victory is a “testament” to the hard work of his teammates and manager. Speaking to the media at full-time, Findlay was “satisfied” with his side’s 12th league win of the season. “We knew how much was on the game today. There was no getting away from that. Rangers have been slowly chipping away with wins every week, and we knew they were going to be a difficult game. They’ve not lost an away game in over a year. We were under no illusions about how hard it was going to be.” “I thought we weathered the first 10, 15 minutes, they came out, probably the better side to start with. But we knew we would get our moments. Thankfully, I was able to pop up with the header and then Shanks does what Shanks does” Derek McInnes’s side have won three straight games, after a winless run had reduced their lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Findlay believes the performances hint at the “mentality” of the squad. “We thrive in big games. I think we’ve shown that in all the big games so far, we’ve managed to show up with the performances to beat Celtic home and away, to beat Rangers home and away. It’s not easy to do, no matter what Celtic Rangers are going to show up. And it’s a testament to the boys in there that we’ve been able to do that. “We believe in ourselves, that’s a big thing. We come into these games with pure belief that we can get the victory”. Findlay was quick to point out the work ethic of his teammates, including another exemplary performance from captain Lawrence Shankland. “You’ve seen Lawrence lose the ball at the top end of the pitch and come back and make a tackle in the final third. You’ve got a midfield three of Cammy, Oisin, and Thomas, who will cover every blade for you. There wasn’t a guy on the park today who was a passenger. Every single person stood up and was counted. I’m so proud of all the boys in there.” Whispers of a title charge continue to gather pace for the Jambos, but Stuart advised that the dressing room refuse to be drawn into such talk. “We’ve reached the expectations of the fans by winning the majority of the games. I can’t stress enough that’s what we need to just keep doing. We just need to keep looking ahead to the next game.” “The title thing, as I said 100 times, I’ll let other people talk about that. We just want to make sure we have dusted that one off, and now it’s a massive Derby that we need to try and get another win.” High-performing partnerships are plentiful across the Hearts team. But perhaps none more effective than Findlay and Craig Halkett, who missed the game through injury. “Craig’s been an absolutely huge part for us this season. We were all sort of gutted that he couldn’t make it today. The boys did him proud, and we got a really good result.” “He was delighted for me (for scoring). As soon as I went in, he was the first guy who came up to me.” The Jambos return to league action at Easter Road on Saturday, in another formidable test for Derek McInnes’ side.

Hearts reclaimed their three-point gap at the summit of the Scottish Premiership against Celtic, but Derek McInnes remains fully focused on the next “challenge” as they look to build on their Parkhead victory. Speaking to the media on Wednesday afternoon, the Hearts manager referenced the significance of Sunday’s result. “For us, it was important to try and get back to winning ways. I think we all needed to feel that win again, after being really spoiled with wins. We had loads of wins at the start, and it just became synonymous, and you get used to it, and you become obsessed with winning, which is no bad thing.” The 2-1 triumph over Celtic ended the Jambos’ spell of four straight games without victory. The winless run also erased their eight-point lead at the top of the league. “You have to dig deep and get the result, so I think the whole club needed the win, the support, players, everybody, so it was nice to get that.” “But it’s only three points, and there’s another challenge on Saturday, but the performance last time was what I hoped for, and thankfully, we got the job done. Midfielder Cammy Devlin has been a prominent feature for McInnes in the opening sixteen league games. The manager is pleased that the Australian is receiving “recognition” for his consistency. “I always thought Cammy was a good player, and he’s got to take the credit for the improvements in his game this season,” “I think we’re seeing a lot more maturity in his performances, a lot more leadership, a lot more prominent, not just when he’s on the ball, but I think he’s got big influence, which you want from your centre-midfield players.” “Cammy’s been a player who’s been so consistent, and it’s nice that he’s getting a bit of recognition for that.” “I’d like that recognition to come when he signs his contract a bit more, but it’s nice nonetheless.” Hearts face Falkirk on Saturday evening, looking to extend their lead to six points ahead of champions Celtic.

Hearts return to home action on Wednesday evening, looking to break a three-match winless run in the Scottish Premiership against 10th-place Kilmarnock.  Speaking with HeartsTV after Saturday’s goalless draw at Fir Park, Derek McInnes hopes his side can “ask the question” of their next opponents. “I want us to try and be a bit more of what we were in terms of being more confident about our work, a bit more belief about our work and a bit more aggressive in our work, even with the two strikers on at the end, the refusal to play up to Kabore and Shankland, and ask the question a bit earlier.” The 0-0 draw left the league leaders 5 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, until nearest challengers Celtic closed that gap to two points the following afternoon at Easter Road. “We kept going round the houses, got ourselves bogged down, so we need to try and engage with strikers, play forward more, and hopefully get our just rewards, and Wednesday night gives us an opportunity – as it always is.” Hearts are unbeaten in 13 of 14 Premiership games, and are the top goalscorers domestically. That included a comprehensive 3-0 victory at BBSP Rugby Park against Wednesday’s opponents, Kilmarnock, “We take the positives from the day to take a point, it’s another point, which on the road is decent shooting. But as long as you take care of your home games, and hopefully we can do that on Wednesday.” Victory at Tynecastle would set up a clash with Celtic on Sunday afternoon, the table toppers will be keen to extend their impressive start to the league season before that tantalising trip to the east end of Glasgow.

Following their stalemate against Motherwell, Derek McInnes called for “perspective” on his side’s positive start to the Scottish Premiership season. Speaking with the media at full-time, the Hearts boss remains content with their opening fourteen league matches. “Delighted, even ahead of the game, we had a chance to go seven points clear, even saying that as a Hearts manager, that nearly into December, a chance to go seven points clear, there has to be some sort of perspective.” “These boys are human. They work hard to care for the club, to try and get results. So there’s no real criticism for me. There are certain things I thought we could have done better today, and there’s a bit of frustration towards that, but we’re doing a lot right, we’ve got a good thing going here at the club.” “It’s important we try and win a game of football on Wednesday. If we can do that, then we get into next weekend’s game in a decent place and a good position.” The manager revealed that he had urged his side to carry more “belief” after a goalless first period. “I thought we had some good moments (in the second half). We pressed well. I thought that in the first half, we tried to fill the midfield. We were really strong with our work. I thought we tried to stop Motherwell getting any sort of rhythm. The keepers didn’t really have a lot to do. I know that the goal was chopped off, but rightly, it was offside.” “I thought we were really good when we did switch to play and moved the ball that but quicker and strikers linked to play, I thought we arrived outside the box with a good few opportunities, and we weren’t on point enough with that.” Hearts remain top of the Scottish Premiership, the 0-0 draw moves them five points clear of Celtic, who have two games in hand. “I thought we’re good enough for a point. I don’t think we’re good enough to get three points, and that’s disappointing. It’s the last couple of games now where we’re an attacking threat, which has loads of plaudits, loads of praise, and rightly so, both individually and as a team” “I think in that sense, a point on the road at Motherwell in isolation, a clean sheet isn’t the worst result as long as you win your home games. But in the context of not winning at Aberdeen, drawing against Dundee United, I think it just feels a bit more disappointment as a consequence.” Hearts are still without central player Beni Baningime, who has missed three consecutive games with a hamstring injury. The Hearts manager referenced the “control” that the midfielder brings. “He can pass, as we know. He looks after the ball. He is very defensive-minded as well. He can snuff out attacks. So you get a bit of both as a central midfield player. You get good ball retention, good experience. Can play in tight areas and protect the back lot.” The Tynecastle outfit return to league action on Wednesday against Kilmarnock, before a top of the table clash with Celtic the following Sunday.