The two week gap has provided an opportunity for some reflection on how our season has started. It hasn't been too bad but certainly falls into the category of "could do better" due to the home league result. A draw against Inverness Caley Thistle on the opening day wasn't the best result and losing to Hibs was a shocker, although we should probably have got a point after our efforts in the final half hour. Tomorrow's game against Hearts is arguably our most difficult home game to date and we'll need to be at our best if we want to take victory.
We do have previous against Hearts on our own turf though - our first ever league win at Greenhill Road came against them back in 2009. Worryingly, that's the last time we've beaten them anywhere in the league and we've only managed a couple of draws against them since Danny Lennon took charge. Like us they have had a solid if unspectacular start - although as they are hoping to snatch the second spot that is now up for grabs they won't be as satisfied with their current points tally as ourselves.
There shouldn't be any change in the players Danny Lennon has available to him after a fortnight off as Grant Adam and Darren McGregor are out long term. We struggled at Aberdeen before the break and were perhaps lucky not to be beaten, so it'll be interesting to see if he shakes things up at home. Steven Thompson and Lewis Guy are likely to start again up front as they offer a good combination of pace and physicality, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see a switch to the front three we saw at times last season with either Dougie Imrie or Gary Teale playing up top.
Our problem last time out seemed to be resisting Aberdeen and creating our own chances so there may be a shake up in midfield and defence. Paul Dummett could be handed a debut at the back while Jon Robertson, who came through the ranks at Hearts before being ditched, may find himself in the starting 11. Personally I'd like to see us go with a 4-4-2 that sees Imrie and Graham Carey – who has scored a few free kicks against Hearts - on the wings and Jim Goodwin and Kenny McLean in the middle. The defence pretty much picks itself at the moment, with Dummett and David Barron the only sensible way to shake things up.
It's a new season so that must mean Hearts have a new manager. Sure enough, Paolo Sergio left Tynecastle over the summer, despite winning the Scottish Cup in his final game in charge. He has been replaced by John McGlynn, who had countless spells as a caretaker manager of Hearts before eventually deciding to try his luck at Raith Rovers. His appointment didn't meet with widespread approval from Hearts fans and it seems they aren't particularly enamoured with his style of play either. As I mentioned their start hasn't been the best, but they were impressive and unlucky when they came up against Liverpool in the qualifiers for the Europa League.
Hearts' problem last season was they lacked a regular goal scoring striker - although Rudi Skacel tried to make up for that from midfield, particularly when he played us. Craig Beattie helped for a short time but the pair of them have both left. However, McGlynn's arrival has seen John Sutton handed another shot, having been sent on loan to Australia for the second half of last season. The former Buddie certainly knows how to find the back of the net - his record with us and Motherwell was impressive - but at the moment seems to be playing up front on his own. He's scored against us a few times in the past so it wouldn't be a surprise for him to do it again tomorrow.
Hearts boss Vladimir Romanov is a strange character who seems to be wound up by minor slights and slagging people off on the club website yet still continuing to do business with them. Therefore before the transfer window shut he punted David Templeton to Rangers - despite having repeatedly criticised them - and also brought Ryan Stevenson back to the club. The midfielder was one of the few players to go public about the disgraceful treatment he received at the end of last year when he didn't receive his wages and ended up at Ipswich, but it seems Romanov was prepared to forgive and forget by sanctioning his return to Tynecastle. He, like Skacel, scored a fair number of goals from midfield so his return should help.
The signing is a bit strange though considering Romanov wanted more of a focus on youth this season. Callum Patterson is a star in the making in defence and Ryan McGowan, who turned down a move to Rangers, also looks like he could be a good player for the Jambos before generating a handy transfer fee. The more experienced players are pretty good too - Andy Webster and Marius Zaliukas are a fine defensive partnership and Darren Barr seems to be doing well playing just in front of them.
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