Hearts’ 1-1 draw at Tynecastle against St Mirren was the latest stumbling block in Craig Levein’s team’s quest for European football. Another example of dropped points, it’s been a recurring theme of their season.
It seems like Hearts just can’t help themselves, throwing up some strange and almost bipolar results. Kilmarnock’s form of late has been uncharacteristically poor under Steve Clarke and yet the Jambos can’t quite catch Killie. This comes despite having won twice at Rugby Park this season, the only team in the league to do so.
Quite often your home form is vital for teams that finish higher up the table. Killie are one of three losses at Tynecastle for Hearts this season. Whilst one of the others was Rangers, they also lost at home to then bottom of the table Dundee.
Andrew Nelson was Dundee’s hero when Hearts met Dundee at Tynecastle. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
One point often isn’t enough
If you’re going for a European place, home fixtures like Dundee and St Mirren on Saturday should be given victories. As should two stalemates against a Livingston side that carried out their game plan to frustrate perfectly.
Then you have the Edinburgh Derby in which Peter Haring, a defensive midfielder, was deployed as a striker because there was nobody else available. Two further dropped points in yet another dull 0-0 affair.
Frustratingly, they’ve beaten Celtic and Aberdeen at home this season. They have it in them to take on anyone.
There’s still plenty fixtures to be played, and Hearts can’t be too disheartened if they reach both cup semi-finals. That shouldn’t excuse them from a poor league showing, mind you.
A trip to Partick Thistle is the only thing currently preventing them from doing so. Whilst their away form has improved on last season, it’s still not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination.
The only real positive on Saturday as far as Hearts were concerned was Clevid Dikamona’s first goal for the club. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
However, their home form of late isn’t good enough either. Especially for a side that is deemed good enough for Europe.
With three tricky tests at Tynecastle to come before the split, Hearts must pick up points in a few of their fixtures against Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs if they are to have a successful season after all.