Hearts on the Brink of Historic Achievement
Derek McInnes has urged his Hearts players to push harder as the team inches closer to a historic achievement. After a first-half deficit, a 2-1 victory over Rangers at Tynecastle boosted their position at the top of the league. With just three games left, Hearts are now three points ahead of Celtic and seven points clear of Rangers.
McInnes’ team has a chance to extend their lead by winning against Motherwell on Saturday evening, followed by an Old Firm clash at Parkhead the next day. They also have a home game against Falkirk and a trip to Celtic Park ahead.
When asked about what it will take to secure their first title since 1960, McInnes emphasized the need for consistent performance throughout each match.
“If we play in the manner we did in the second half, then we’re difficult to stop,” he said. “But if we play in the manner we did in the first half, then we’re susceptible to losing games.”
McInnes highlighted that achieving 76 points with three games remaining is a remarkable feat. He expressed pride in the players’ efforts, suggesting this could be their highest points tally ever.
“It’s good that you’ve come from behind because you know it’s under the bonnet, you know it’s there,” he added. “But if we can’t keep doing that, obviously, next weekend we play before Rangers and Celtic, but it’s another pivotal weekend.”
The manager acknowledged the excitement surrounding Scottish football and the significance of Hearts being in this position. However, he stressed that the focus must remain on winning rather than celebrating past efforts.
“Like I said a few weeks back, I’m not here to get a pat on the back for good old Hearts putting up a fight. It’s way beyond that now. We’ve got to try and go and win it now.”
A Transformation in the Second Half
Hearts were second best in the first half, but they made a dramatic turnaround in the second period, scoring goals from Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland.
“There’s no straightforward games,” said McInnes. “Credit to the players. They’ve dug that out.”
He admitted he was disappointed with the first-half performance, acknowledging that it was understandable given the high stakes. However, he praised the second-half mindset shift.
“Half-time couldn’t have come quick enough for us to make changes because it wasn’t a change of system in the second half, it was a change of mindset, it was a change of approach and a wee reminder to them that they don’t get top of the league by turning up and playing the way they did in the first half.”
McInnes noted that the team’s consistent performance at the top of the league has been due to their determination. He believed they needed to be better than Rangers in terms of spirit, goal attempts, and pressure on the opposition’s defense.
“The team’s been at the top end of the league a few weeks now and I think there’s a reason for that. We needed to go and be better than what Rangers were in the first half.”
Keeping the Pressure on
Despite the lead, McInnes insists that Rangers are still a threat. He refused to count them out, stating that they are capable of winning their next three games.
“I’d never say that,” he said. “Rangers are capable of winning the next three games. The onus is on us to still win games as ever.”
Hearts could clinch the title by beating Falkirk at home if they win at Motherwell and Celtic fail to beat Rangers. McInnes remains confident that the race will go down to the final game.
“I’m preparing for that. I think we have to think that way. It’s a big week now. We’ve got three games in a week. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and see how we go in terms of how the lads are feeling.”
He also mentioned the importance of having key players like Cammy Devlin and Harry Milne available for the upcoming matches.
Looking Back and Forward
McInnes was asked what he would have said back in August if someone had predicted that his side would be close to the title with three games left.
“I think it would have been foolish to think that you could get to where we’ve got to,” he said. “You would never have expected that. I said I wanted 18 wins as quickly as possible to guarantee Europe and thankfully we got that a while back.”
He emphasized the positive atmosphere within the club, but stressed that the main focus remains on the first team’s performance.
“The whole club has a lot of positivity about it, but we know the main driver of the club is the first team and it’s important that we try and keep trying to do our job well for a wee bit.”
