Heart of Midlothian

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  1. 'I'm not a great believer in it' - Neilson questions Hearts training trippublished at 10:51 BST 2 April

    Hearts playersImage source, SNS

    Former Hearts captain and manager Robbie Neilson thinks a warm weather pre-split training camp could be more of a hindrance than a help for Derek McInnes' table-topping side.

    The Tynecastle club were due to head to the Dubai for a five-day warm weather training camp at the start of March, a trip that had to be cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East.

    Instead Hearts will reportedly go to Spain during Scottish Cup semi-final weekend on 18-19 April to prepare for the post-split fixtures.

    "I think that what it does is it guarantees you good training sessions because you don't know what the weather's going to be like in Scotland," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "It gives you an opportunity to go out and maybe train twice a day if you want. But I prefer it if you have a winter break and you've maybe got three or four weeks off and you go for a week. I think when you're in the rhythm of the season, I'm not a great believer in it.

    "You'll miss a day travelling, you then have to acclimatise to the temperature, or the change in pitches. You're probably not going to train twice a day because you don't want to overload them for the game that's coming up in a week or 10 days' time.

    "Personally, if it was me, I wouldn't be going at this time of year. I would do it in the winter camp, in pre-season, but I think at this time you want to stay in that rhythm. The rhythm of the weather, the training, everything that's going on because it's doing so well for them at the moment.

    "I think if you're looking at it from a training perspective, it's probably not great because you know you're not going to be able to do a mini pre-season, you don't have enough time so you're just going to carry the same training load that you probably would back home.

    "But taking them away and out of the environment, psychologically, for the players could be beneficial for them."

  2. Findlay nears Hearts return and good signs for Gordonpublished at 09:13 BST 2 April

    Scottish gossip

    Hearts head coach Derek McInnes remains "very positive" on a return to fitness before the end of the season for Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, while revealing defender Stuart Findlay is close to a comeback. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

  3. Will away form decide Scottish Premiership title?published at 15:59 BST 1 April

    Hearts and Celtic have both won eight games away from home, Rangers have won sevenImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Hearts and Celtic have both won eight games away from home, Rangers have won seven

    Will away form decide who wins the Scottish Premiership title?

    Five points currently separate Hearts at the top of the table and Celtic in third place while Rangers are two ahead of their Glasgow rivals and three behind the leaders.

    There's just seven games left to crown this season's champion and it's looking like the split is going to be decisive, but just how much will away fixtures affect where the trophy ends up?

    Both Rangers and Hearts have played 15 away games so far, Celtic have played one extra.

    In terms of victories, Celtic and Hearts have won eight away games while Rangers have won seven. In contrast, Hearts have won 12 of their home games, Rangers have 10 home victories and Celtic are on 11.

    Hearts have scored 24 goals away from home and 29 at Tynecastle. Rangers have also scored 24 goals at away games but have 32 at Ibrox while Celtic have scored 23 goals away from home and 33 at home.

    Interestingly, both Hearts and Celtic have lost five away games each while Rangers have only lost one game away from Ibrox. However they've drawn seven while Hearts and Celtic have drawn two and three respectively.

    And Hearts fan Liam Corbett of This is My Story podcast suggests whichever team sorts out their away form will be the one to lift the trophy in May.

    "I think it's the away form that will win the title," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "Rangers haven't been great away from home and we've lost four of our last six away from home. Now we're at Livingston on Sunday then it'll be Hibs, Celtic and Motherwell away in the split.

    "I think it comes down to whoever can master their away form. We're all pretty decent at home, maybe barring Celtic a little bit in terms of losses. We're unbeaten at home all season.

    "Hearts have been churning out these 1-0 victories that maybe, if you're from the outside, looking in, look wobbly but they've been the most assured 1-0 victories you can get. But they only last so long.

    "So whoever can master their away form will be the ones that get the best chance of bringing home the title."

  4. Hearts have seven games to 'define their season'published at 12:27 BST 1 April

    Brian McLauchlin
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Behind the mic

    With the international window now closed until the World Cup this summer the spotlight in Scotland falls squarely back on the domestic game, and what a story it has been.

    No narrative has captured the imagination quite like Hearts' relentless push for the Premiership title.

    Week after week, their performances have not only set the pace at home but sparked interest far beyond Scotland's borders. This is no longer just a good season — it's a campaign that has demanded attention.

    And yet, as the run-in begins, the message from Tynecastle will be clear: keep it calm, keep it controlled.

    They've already secured 66 points, 21 remain and seven games stand between this group of players and a place in club folklore. The equation is simple but the execution rarely is.

    The pressure, too, is very real. By the time Hearts step onto the pitch in West Lothian, they may have been knocked off top spot. A Rangers victory the day before would tighten things further, adding another layer of tension to an already gripping title race.

    But this is where mindset becomes everything.

    For Derek McInnes and his players, the focus cannot drift. Title races are not won by chasing others, they are won by taking care of your own business. Match by match, moment by moment. Replicate the form shown earlier in the season across these final fixtures, and the prize will take care of itself.

    Livingston away is the next test and on paper it's one Hearts should pass. But football, especially at this stage of a season, rarely follows the script. Livingston's long winless run will count for nothing once the whistle blows. Pride, pressure, and unpredictability often collide in games like these.

    Win, and Hearts edge closer. Another hurdle cleared, another signal of intent sent to their rivals. Lose, and the narrative shifts. Doubts grow louder. Questions about composure and resilience begin to circle.

    That is the fine margin of a title race.

    For Hearts, the opportunity is there. Seven games to define a season. Seven games to make history.

  5. Hearts 'agonisingly close' to possibility of winning leaguepublished at 11:32 BST 31 March

    Greg Playfair
    Fan writer

    Hearts fan's voice

    In a world of modern technology - where smart watches track your steps, heart rate and more - any Jambos that own one will find the past few weeks make for some interesting reading.

    At the Dundee game the other weekend, my watch pinged an alert telling me I was in a "stressful period" and needed to calm down.

    I'm pretty sure the 19,000 other Hearts fans at Tynecastle got a similar message, because we're now just seven games away from the agonisingly close possibility of winning the Scottish Premiership.

    I can't even bear thinking about it; I'm sure Derek McInnes and the team will be a lot more chilled than the supporters.

    As boring as it is, we can only take each game as it comes - and Livingston away on Sunday is the biggest away fixture for a generation.

    The fact we'll be taking more than 7,000 supporters to the Spaghettihad/Parmesan des Princes (or whatever it's known as these days) is an absolute testament to the job McInnes and the players have done, with Jambos fully behind the team right now.

    It's fitting the game is played on Easter Sunday, because Hearts are on a journey to resurrect the reputation of Scottish football and shed the Old Firm's duopoly that has dominated the league for the past four decades.

    Whenever I speak to football supporters at work from the rest of the UK and beyond, everyone wants us to do it.

    I've never spoken about Hearts so much in the past six months while we've been top of the league in my world of financial services - and this story really resonates with people.

    This is a club owned by its supporters - who have donated more than £20m - after it was nearly lost to administration.

    We've played in the second tier twice in the past 11 years and we last won Scotland's top flight 66 years ago. We have had our downs and hopefully it's our time to experience some highs.

    All that matters on Sunday is making the short trip back along the M8 with three points; it doesn't matter how we get them.

    There's a bit of a curse we'll need to break with the TV company covering the match, too - we've failed to win our past four games shown on that channel.

    I've stopped trying to give Del advice on tactics - he clearly knows better than me. I'm sure captain Lawrence Shankland comes back into the starting line-up and I'd love to see him back amongst the goals this weekend.

    A comfortable 1-0 win would do once again but fingers crossed it's a lot easier on the day.

  6. Irving backs former club Hearts to win title - gossippublished at 08:43 BST 31 March

    Gossip graphic

    Scotland midfielder Andy Irving, now with Czech side Sparta Prague, is "pretty confident" his old team Hearts will finish the season as Scottish Premiership champions. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

    Hearts winning the Premiership would have no impact on Hibernian's "business side", says Easter Road chief executive Dan Barnett. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

    Tuesday's Scottish gossip

  7. 'If Gordon's fit for World Cup, he will play'published at 09:45 BST 30 March

    Media caption,

    Watch Gordon produce save of season as 10-man Hearts hold on at Dundee

    Steve Clarke will select Craig Gordon as his first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup if the injured 43-year-old recovers in time for the summer, says former Scotland international Cammy Bell.

    The Hearts man has played just three times this season, finding himself down the pecking order at Tynecastle amid a campaign plagued by fitness problems.

    The veteran goalkeeper produced one of the saves of the season in the Scottish Premiership leaders' vital victory at Dundee in January, but he has featured just twice since.

    Angus Gunn, who is also struggling for minutes at club level, was restored to Clarke's line-up for Scotland's friendly defeat to Japan on Saturday.

    However, former Hearts player Bell believes Gordon will get the gloves if he can return from a shoulder issue by the time the Scots jet off to the US in June.

    "If Craig Gordon's fit for the World Cup, I think Craig Gordon will play," Bell said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "Yes, it would be ideal if Craig can get a few games under his belt before then, but if that doesn't happen, I really don't think that affects Steve's decision too much.

    "He handles the pressure games really well. He's still a top, top goalkeeper. I think it's also that experience he's got as well.

    "But it's good to have Angus Gunn playing. He did well on Saturday again - some decent saves and everything that was asked of him he did very tidily. He looked very confident within the game as well.

    "We would expect him to play again on Tuesday night. I think if we can get as much game time as possible into Gunn before the World Cup, it sets us up in a better place to have Angus and Craig there to fight it out."

  8. Post-split fixtures & midfield conundrumpublished at 12:43 GMT 27 March

    Hearts graphic

    BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

    Alan asked: If Hearts are still top at the split, will we be given a home match for the last game of the season?

    Leo asked: What's the likelihood of Hearts facing Rangers for the last match of the season at Tynecastle? Can the Jambos hold under such pressure?

    Brian answered: Hi Alan and Leo, with the top six almost decided the SPFL will have been burning the midnight oil regarding how these post-split fixtures will work.

    One thing for sure is Rangers will be visiting Tynecastle and Hearts will make trips to both Celtic Park and Easter Road.

    By the time the split comes both Motherwell and Falkirk will have been to Tynecastle twice this season. One of them, most likely Falkirk, will be returning for a third time to ensure Hearts end the season having played 19 matches at home and the same number on the road.

    As for Rangers coming to Tynecastle on the last day for what could be a title shootout, it would be the biggest game in years.

    Steve asked: While Marc Leonard has been a fantastic singing, I don't see how he plays in a team with a fit Cammy Devlin. Beni Baningime adjusted to how Cammy plays and they complemented each other but against Dundee our midfield was static. So who plays in the middle?

    Brian answered: There is no doubt Leonard has been an excellent addition to the squad since joining on loan from Birmingham City.

    The injuries to both Baningime and Devlin came at the wrong time for the club and along with Tomas Magnusson, Leonard has proved more than capable in this key area of the pitch.

    For me a fit Baningime and Devlin would always be a starting pair in that area, but with both out of contract come the end of this season - and should Leonard decide Tynecastle is where his future lies - this could sway the manager.

    Whoever is chosen will know exactly what is required in the remaining seven games.

    This is your Hearts page. Bookmark it, or if you're logged in on the BBC Sport app, press the bell icon at the top and select news alerts. If you're signed in on a browser, press 'follow' and you'll start seeing more Hearts content when on the site.

  9. The 'good, bad & unexplainable' - is Jamestown a success for Hearts?published at 17:10 GMT 26 March

    Hearts graphic

    BBC Scotland's Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin has been answering some of your questions on Hearts.

    Fergus asked: Do you think Jamestown Analytics' model is a success at Tynecastle and how do you view it long term? We have seen the good and bad this season and also the unexplainable - Rogers Mato brought in under a fanfare and has barely kicked a ball.

    Tom asked: Other than Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis, do you think Jamestown Analytics has been a success, especially as the spine of the team was already there last season?

    Brian answered: Very similar questions here. I think Jamestown Analytics has been a huge success this season and is the envy of every other club in Scottish football.

    Without it the chances of Hearts identifying Braga would have been slim to zero and while others may be taking time to settle they have mostly all contributed to a sensational campaign.

    The age of some of these players is an indication they have yet to reach their peak. Kyziridis is 25, Braga 26, Mato 22, Pierre Kabore 24, Islam Chesnokov 26 and Jordi Altena 22.

    All these players are arguably sellable assets for a profit. And with the Jamestown model being to sell for a profit and reinvest to bring in even better quality, it all seems to be working as expected.

    No system, however, can claim 100% every player will be a success. The hefty investment in Ageu is yet to prove value for money and he has been plagued by injuries. By and large this model tends to get more right than wrong in the long term.

    Dave asked: Do you think Stuart Findlay, Lawrence Shankland and Cameron Devlin will all start against Livingston? Or, given the plastic pitch, do they start on the bench rather than being risked?

    Brian answered: Given the enormity of the upcoming matches it would be foolish for Derek McInnes to throw all his recently-injured players straight back into the starting 11 against Livingston.

    However, with Devlin coming through the majority of the win against Dundee unscathed and Shankland also making his comeback, I'm pretty sure both will play a major part in the game.

    Findlay has been out for over a month so it would be a risk throwing him straight back into the team.

    However, with Harry Milne also likely to be available this would allow Jamie McCart to slot into the centre-back role alongside a hopefully fully-fit Craig Halkett. Training next week will dictate who exactly McInnes will have at his disposal.

    Visit here again on Friday for more answers to your questions. This is your Hearts page. Bookmark it, or if you're logged in on the BBC Sport app, press the bell icon at the top and select news alerts. If you're signed in on a browser, press 'follow' and you'll start seeing more Hearts content when on the site.

  10. Hearts' unsung hero Schwolowpublished at 13:46 GMT 26 March

    Charlotte Cohen
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Alexander Schwolow has kept 13 clean sheets in the Scottish PremiershipImage source, SNS

    Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow may just be the unsung hero of Hearts' impressive league campaign.

    The 33-year-old joined from Union Berlin in the summer and has featured in 26 games for the Premiership leaders.

    Prior to his Tynecastle switch, Schwolow spent his entire career in Germany but has settled in nicely to life in Edinburgh.

    He has kept 13 clean sheets in the league - only Motherwell's Calum Ward (17) has more - and his 17 goals conceded is the lowest of any goalkeeper who has played comparable minutes.

    Similarly, Schwolow's 76.1% save rate is only bettered by Ward (77.8%) and Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland (77.6%).

    With just seven league games to go Hearts have a three-point lead at the top and Schwolow has stressed the importance of the fans in the run-in.

    "I think people underestimate how important that is for us players on the pitch because you feel the tension you feel if the crowd is nervous," he told HeartsTV, external.

    "I can just tell you feel it on the pitch, and the fans have been amazing, supporting us.

    "Although we sometimes haven't played the best football, they had our back and I think that's the reason why we could always bounce back, especially, for example, after the defeat in Kilmarnock.

    "They don't blame us they don't shout at us; they still have the faith in us and that's what we need."

  11. 'Hearts could lose Osborne to Premier League' - gossippublished at 08:58 GMT 26 March

    Hearts are bracing themselves to lose one of their brightest young talents, with Arsenal and Manchester City leading Premier League interest in 17-year-old defender Alfie Osborne. (TeamTalk), external

    Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

    Gossip graphic
  12. Sergio tells Hearts fans to relax in title pursuitpublished at 11:18 GMT 25 March

    Sergio attended Hearts' win over Dundee last SaturdayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Former boss Sergio attended Hearts' win over Dundee last Saturday

    Paulo Sergio - the last manager to lead Hearts to silverware - has called for calm heads from the "nervous" support as the club close in on a first top-flight title in 66 years.

    The 58-year-old Portuguese has remained an avid Hearts fan since his year in charge, which culminated in the 5-1 rout of Hibernian in 2012 to lift the Scottish Cup.

    Sergio was at back Tynecastle for Saturday's 1-0 home win over Dundee but detected a tension in the stands.

    "At the moment I think there is a lot of stress because of the great opportunity they have in their hands," he said.

    "I would like the fans to control their stress and do their part. Sing more, support more, believe even more because with this great chance, everybody in the stand is very nervous, so sometimes they forget the role that they have to do.

    "I think they need to keep positive and singing for the team, that will help the boys a lot. Also the boys need to focus on what they have to do. Don't be thinking about the position because sometimes this brings stress.

    "Sometimes you go on the pitch thinking, 'what happens if we don't win and the other teams win?'.

    "And this doesn't allow you to have a clear mind and perform. Just be focused on what you can control, which is your performance, and the points will come naturally."

    Sergio says Hearts - three points clear of Rangers and five ahead of Celtic with seven games remaining - deserve to end 40 years of Old Firm title dominance.

    "I don't see other ones doing better," he said. "The team has been in first place all season. In my opinion, they deserve to stay there until the end.

    "It's a season where Celtic and Rangers are not performing at the level we are used to seeing. But credit to Hearts, they have almost 70 points. This speaks about what Derek [McInnes] and all the people involved are doing.

    "I hope they can keep this run and make some history for the club."

    Sergio admits he was not aware of countryman Claudio Braga until the impressive Portuguese forward's Hearts switch last summer.

    "I'm very happy with that," he said of 15-goal Braga.

    "I didn't know the boy before but now he's at Hearts, I'm aware of the capacity of Claudio and I wish him the best.

    "Normally our TV in Portugal shows Celtic or Rangers, but this season, they are showing the games of Hearts too. Then people start knowing Braga here in Portugal and start speaking about him. He will be remembered forever if we keep this position."

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  13. Put your Hearts questions to Brian McLauchlinpublished at 09:56 GMT 25 March

    Have your say

    What would you like to ask our Edinburgh football reporter Brian McLauchlin about Premiership leaders Hearts as they edge closer to the title?

    He is in the hotseat, ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

    Put your questions to Brian here.

  14. Hearts break plans & Hibs boss on 'noise' - gossippublished at 07:57 GMT 25 March

    Gossip graphic

    Hearts coaches will seek to replicate a match scenario for fringe players and those returning from injury during the international break. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

    Hibernian head coach David Gray sees progress in his side this season but accepts there is "more noise" towards Hibs with Hearts sitting top of the Scottish Premiership. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

    Wednesday's Scottish gossip

  15. Why Shankland's return is so crucial for leaders Heartspublished at 11:30 GMT 24 March

    Nick McPheat
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Graphic detailing Hearts' record with and without Lawrence ShanklandImage source, SNS

    Top of the league by the March international break. Influential midfielder Cammy Devlin is back. And, more crucially, captain and talismanic striker Lawrence Shankland is available again.

    Sidelined since January with a hamstring injury, Shankland made his return from the bench in Saturday's narrow win over Dundee.

    Although the 30-year-old forward did not provide the decisive moment, his 36-minute cameo highlighted why his comeback is so important for Hearts' title charge.

    "Even in the small moments Shankland was involved in, you could see his link-up play," former Hearts head coach Steven Naismith said on BBC's Sportscene.

    "His game intelligence was on show and I think that will be big in the coming weeks."

    Shankland's relentless scoring form in recent seasons has often meant his link-up play goes under the radar.

    He misplaced just one of his 11 passes on Saturday and boasted 100% accuracy in the final third - seven out of seven completed - which allowed Hearts to sustain pressure before Oisin McEntee's winner.

    Shankland also had more shots on goal than fellow forward Pierre Landry Kabore and found the target more often than Claudio Braga despite fewer minutes on the pitch.

    His influence also becomes clearer when dissecting Hearts' record with and without the striker this season. Their win rate plummets from 73% to 44%.

    While Derek McInnes' side have managed to stay top of the tree during Shankland's absence, they lost four of their five league matches without him.

    Hearts failed to score in three of those five games without their captain - recent defeats at St Mirren and Kilmarnock (during a spell when Devlin was also missing), plus November's loss at Aberdeen.

    With Shankland in the side, McInnes' men have failed to score only once in 18 matches - a goalless draw at Fir Park.

    The forward will miss Scotland's upcoming fixtures against Japan and Ivory Coast, instead using the international break to build his fitness ahead of key club matches against Livingston and Motherwell before the league split.

    "I've got a bit of time now without games, so I'll use it to get myself in the best shape possible," he told BBC Scotland after the match on Saturday.

    "It'll be a lot of hard work over the next couple of weeks, but I'm looking forward to getting back into the fixtures."

  16. 'The sign of a real good team' - Thomson praises Hearts' narrow home winspublished at 13:16 GMT 23 March

    Media caption,

    Sportscene analysis: Shankland makes instant impact on Hearts return

    Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson says Hearts' recent home results are the sign of "a real good team".

    Derek McInnes' side have had four straight home victories in the Scottish Premiership, amid three consecutive away defeats.

    They lead the top flight by three points from Rangers and by five from Celtic.

    Key duo Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland were back in the squad for Saturday's win over Dundee and Thomson believes they will be vital during the run-in.

    "They have had a wonderful season, been there for the majority it, they have been there to be shot at," Thomson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "They continue to find ways of winning games of football, which is a great habit to have. I think that's four 1-0 wins at Tynecastle in their past four home games, which is normally a sign of a real good team, because you can't always play well, it can't always be perfect.

    "Obviously having some of their big stars out injured - Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland - they have done incredibly well to stay right in the fight right up until the end. And I certainly wouldn't bet against them, that's for sure."

    Hearts players celebrate after their win over DundeeImage source, SNS
  17. Who made BBC's Premiership team of the week?published at 11:39 GMT 23 March

    Jonathan Sutherland
    Sportscene presenter

    Team of the week

    GK: Raphael Sallinger (Hibernian)

    Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers, so three saves and a clean sheet wins it for the Hibs custodian.

    RCB: James Tavernier (Rangers)

    Can Rangers really afford to lose the goals this right-back gives them every season? Not getting any younger but still delivers, as his free-kick against Aberdeen demonstrated.

    CB: Ross Graham (Dundee United)

    A lion at the back for United against Celtic. Stifled all the defending champions could throw at him, clean sheet and three points that keep United's slim top-half hopes alive. The perfect riposte to his derby day dejection.

    LCB: Liam Donnelly (St Mirren)

    The midfielder played on the right of a back three for St Mirren and shone defensively as well as scoring the winner. A big three points away to Falkirk.

    RWB: Oisin McEntee (Hearts)

    Towering header the decisive moment for Hearts to break the deadlock against Dundee. His physicality and power make him a huge threat at set-pieces.

    CM: Marc Leonard (Hearts)

    A different kind of midfielder to Cammy Devlin but arrived at the right time to fill the void left by the Australian this season. His delivery for McEntee's vital goal was right on the money.

    CM: Emmanuel Agyei (Dundee United)

    A robust and dynamic performance from the Ghanaian, topped off with a huge goal.

    LWB: Will Ferry (Dundee United)

    Normally all about the delivery, but Sunday was all about the finish from Ferry, which opened the scoring against Celtic. Not the cleanest of strikes but it doesn't matter. Remarkably his first United goal.

    RW: Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock)

    Going to Kilmarnock was the best thing that happened to Steve Clarke, and the same for Curtis. Their paths will now cross in the Scotland camp, and rightly so. Curtis always looked like he had the talent, Kilmarnock are giving him the stage and all parties are benefitting. Scored the second in the big 2-0 win over Livingston.

    CF: Joe Hugill (Kilmarnock)

    An impressive showing topped with a goal from the former Manchester United youngster, and an assist for Curtis.

    LW: Mikey Moore (Rangers)

    The 18-year-old clearly had a lot of talent when he arrived at Ibrox, but in recent times he has stepped it up a level and delivered with consistency as Rangers continue their late charge for the title.

  18. Watch leaders Hearts earn crucial win over Dundeepublished at 18:14 GMT 22 March

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Hearts 1-0 Dundee

    Watch 10-man Hearts return to winning ways at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a narrow win over Dundee.

    Available in UK only

  19. 'Hard to watch but I'd rather win playing poorly than lose playing well'published at 11:21 GMT 22 March

    Your opinions

    We asked you Hearts fans for your views on the 1-0 win over Dundee that set the pace at the top of the table. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

    Kris: You could instantly see what a difference Lawrence Shankland made to the way we play. He holds up better than Pierre Landry Kabore, finishes better, links play better and brings out the best in Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis too! He and Cammy Devlin coming back are massive, as we deserved nothing at half-time and then deserved our (albeit narrow) win.

    Alan: Kudos to Michael Steinwender. Played out of position this season, and he's really taken one for the team. Against Dundee, he got played in his normal position and was a real unsung hero. When we win this league, I hope Michael holds the trophy high above his head and we celebrate what he's given to us - his all.

    Graham: Brilliant win, thought we controlled the game for the majority but never looked like finding the net. Credit to Dundee who stuck to their gameplan well. Marc Leonard's free kick and Oisin McEntee's header were quality, and reminded me of Kevin Kyle's winner v Hibs in 2011. Bring on the next game.

    Chris: When you rock up and play for a draw, as Dundee did, then get beaten 1-0 by a set play - some would call that karma. We were devoid of ideas today and McEntee has saved us with a great header as I couldn't see us scoring from open play. Seven to go.

    Steve: I genuinely can't remember the last time we played well, our football is so slow and predictable. Dundee pass the ball three times and get a corner. We pass the ball 20 and are still in our own half. Our physio room is going to be busier than the stands at this rate.

    Alfred: Incredibly grateful for the three points as logically that's all that matters just now but the football is regressing and the tactics seem non-existent. Derek McInnes needs to regain his composure and get the players ticking again. Hard stuff to watch but I'd rather win playing poorly than lose playing well.

    Peter: We have a lot of injuries and that's playing out on the field. In turn the football is hard to watch. Some players seem low on confidence which is crazy to say. I've never been so happy to have two weeks off. Now to enjoy the view from the top.

    Thomas: We can pass a ball upwards of 20 times and be back further than where we started. That slow, across-the-back, side-to-side football drains the life out of you and gets us nowhere. Lost our last two games on plastic pitches and played poorly and I don't see that changing against Livi.

  20. Hearts 1-0 Dundee: What the manager saidpublished at 17:46 GMT 21 March

    Hearts manager Derek McInnes celebrates at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Dundee at Tynecastle ParkImage source, SNS

    Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "Really pleased with the outcome. It was a tight game. We've lost one goal in four games, and that was last week at Kilmarnock.

    "We've done a lot right to get our clean sheet, it doesn't come by chance. I thought we were the better team, but I'd like us to be a bit more dominant in terms of creating chances.

    "We should've asked the question a bit more. Because when we did put the ball in the box it caused them a bit of stress and uncertainty.

    "I thought Leonard and Devlin ran the game, we were just looking for a bit more quality at the top end of the pitch.

    "The quality comes from a set play - they have been so important for us. We spoke yesterday at the team meeting about can we be the best team at set-plays between now and the end of the season?

    "We're off to a good start. Delighted for Ross [Grant], my set-piece coach, because it's not been easy when the finger is being pointed.

    "It's a brilliant header from big Oisin [McEntee]. A great cross from Marc Leonard. Quality and determination has won the game for us."

  21. Hearts 1-0 Dundee: Have your saypublished at 17:33 GMT 21 March

    Have your say

    Oisin McEntee's towering header gave leaders Hearts a vital victory over Dundee to ensure they head into the international break top of the Scottish Premiership.

    Have your say on Hearts' performance.