The spats between Michael Stewart and Hearts manager Craig Levein have taken the majority of the footballing headlines this week in the capital.
However, after the Jambos’ 2-0 victory over St Johnstone at Tynecastle, Hearts registered their fourth win and clean sheet in five games. Yet there’s a special significance surrounding both goalscorers against a Saints side that hadn’t conceded in their last four themselves.
Marcus Godinho and Callumn Morrison both grabbed their first goals for the club. The duo having both graduated through the Tynecastle team’s youth system.
First was the Canadian international full back. After receiving a superbly weighted pass from John Souttar, impressive upon his first start for Hearts since his hip injury, Godinho coolly controlled and slotted under Zander Clark.
Then teenage winger Morrison sealed the deal in injury time. The Jambos kept possession patiently before Olly Lee released the winger to smash across Clark with a cool first time finish. A thoroughly deserved win for the home side. St Johnstone, disappointingly, failed to register a single attempt on target.
Michael Stewart’s issue
Michael Stewart was quick to point out the fact that Hearts were bottom of the league table when it came to minutes given to academy graduates. You can see his point.
However, during the 2017-18 season, teenagers played more first team minutes at Hearts than at any other team in a European top flight. The figure standing at an impressive total of 4,826 minutes.
He argues that this is because there was nobody else to start. Yet Craig Levein has shipped Anthony McDonald out on loan to Inverness this season. The Edinburgh Evening News report that his side have been contacted regarding Harry Cochrane’s immediate future.
If the pair were to gain significant game time and Hearts were still in the hunt for a European place, the majority of fans would settle for that.