It goes without saying that it won't be easy, with Tynecastle being one of the hardest places to go in the SPL outside of the Old Firm. However, if we can continue to produce the decent football we have been displaying in recent weeks, then there's no reason we can't leave without at least a point. After all, we ended a four year wait for a win at Easter Road last month, so why can't we do the same tomorrow?
A win would also slay the demons of what happened last time we went to Gorgie. Despite being 2-1 up going into the last 10 minutes thanks to a double from Michael Higdon, we somehow contrived to lose the match thanks to conceding yet another late goal. It was an absolutely ridiculous situation and pretty much summed up what last season was all about for us. We managed to lose all three games to Hearts, the first time that's happened since we returned to the SPL. Perhaps they were getting revenge for our League Cup semi-final win over them the previous season, although with hindsight I'd have been more than happy to let them win that match.
It is time for Danny Lennon to make a few changes to his system. Yes, we all enjoy the lovely passing moves we put together when we attack - but passing the ball about at the edge of our own penalty box means we often cause ourselves more problems than the opposition. We need to be prepared to be a wee bit more direct at times rather than just pass it about and hope for an opening. If we continue to mess about at the back, it is only going to cost us - especially at a place like Tynecastle.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see us go with the same team that drew with St Johnstone, but it is probably about time for a few changes. Aside from his free-kick against Morton, Gary Teale hasn't really impressed. Graham Carey - who scored a screamer of a free-kick against the Jambos last year - has reportedly managed to shed some of the many pounds he was carrying and is surely now deserving of a place in the side from the start.
Admittedly, aside from that there is nothing really obvious. Steven Thompson is always going to be preferred to Jon McShane, while Steven Thomson is probably doing just enough to keep his place from Kenny McLean. The only other option open in an attacking sense is Joe McKee, but he's unlikely to take over from Nigel Hasselbaink or Paul McGowan any time soon. However, he should be getting a run out from the bench and hopefully tomorrow will see the start of Lennon using his subs a bit more. Among them could be Hugh Murray, although Aaron Mooy and Darren McGregor are still missing.
Those of us who like a good laugh in Scottish football have usually only had to cast a quick glance down Gorgie way to be suitably amused. But last season, things changed. Jim Jefferies were back at the helm for a full season and, for the most part, seemed to be left to get on with things by Vladimir Romanov. Aside from a few rumblings about team selections and transfers, Jefferies could pick and sign who he wanted. It is surely no coincidence that he managed to guide the Jambos to third in the league. So what did Mad Vlad do two games into the new season? That's right, he sacked him.
It's worth noting Hearts won only one of their last 12 games last season (no prizes for guessing who that was against) and had managed a point from their first two this term, which came at Ibrox. Not a great run of form and it seems Hearts fans were a bit unimpressed with the football on display. However, the decision to get rid of a man who has brought you European football is crazy, especially two games into the season when you have allowed him to sign some players. As a result, the latest Hearts managerial dead man walking, Paulo Sergio, wasn't able to sign anyone before the transfer window slammed shut.
One of the men Jefferies brought in was former Saint John Sutton. The striker rattled in 17 goals for Motherwell last season and could probably have got himself a decent gig down south, but decided to stay up here by joining the Jambos. He should prove to be a good signing for Hearts once he starts banging in the goals. If he gets one tomorrow it won't be the first time he's done it against us, having managed that trick a couple of times at Fir Park. Sutton was vastly underrated by a number of Saints fans, mainly because he didn't run about a lot like his strike partner Stewart Kean. Sutton got the best part 30 goals in two seasons, helped us win the first division and League Challenge Cup and then scored the goals that kept us in the SPL. How anyone can complain about a guy like that is a mystery.
Sutton was one of four players Jefferies brought in over the summer, with Kilmarnock pair Jamie Hamill and Mehdi Taouil and St Johnstone's Danny Grainger the other new arrivals. Grainger was initially brought in as back-up, however the departure of Lee Wallace to Rangers means he'll probably get more game time than he was anticipating. The departure of Wallace is a strange one given Romanov apparently wants the league title - selling your best player, to one of your rivals, and not giving manager any of the cash to spend is not exactly what prospective champions do. Still, it was a rather less controversial departure than Craig Thomson's, but we won't go into that.
Despite the departure of Wallace, Hearts still have plenty of good players. When Andy Webster is fit enough he is a contender for a Scotland place and should form a good partnership with Marius Zaliukas. Ian Black will kick anything that moves in midfield, with David Templeton, Ryan Stevenson and Rudi Skacel left with the task of creating and scoring goals. Eggert Jonsson flits between both roles and can also fill in at the back. The Jambos are also in the position of having three handy goalkeepers in the form of Janos Balogh, Marian Kello and Jamie MacDonald. They also have three good strikers in addition to Sutton, with Calum Elliot, Stephen Elliot and Kevin Kyle (when he's not injured) capable of annoying most defenders.
Tomorrow's game is undoubtedly winnable, but a trip to Hearts is never easy no matter the manager and Mad Vlad's mood. With that in mind, I'd be more than happy with a point.
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