Hearts captain Christophe Berra has said the Jambos players need to toughen up ahead of this week’s derby clash.
They head into the match with Hibs on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Motherwell, leaving them winless in the Premiership since March.
Berra has said current events around Tynecastle are affecting some players, but that they just need to ‘get on with it’.
He told the Daily Record (18/09/19, page 47): “It’s obviously not a good situation we’re in. We’ve all been here before at some point in our careers. It’s tough but we’ll just have to roll up our sleeves, get on with it and try to improve our performances and get some wins.
“People will be down and it’s about trying to lift the spirits up. I think to myself, is it someone just having a bad day or is it a series of bad results building up and the confidence is low?
“Obviously it’s getting to some of the players and affecting performances.”
Berra is right, Hearts players can’t feel sorry for themselves
There isn’t one Hearts player on a run of particularly impressive form. Everyone has let their standards slip over the last set of games.
Of course things like a protest against the manager outside your home ground is never nice. As hard as that is though, players must not let that get to them.
If they allow the pressure being piled on the club to sack Craig Levein manifest inside of them, it’ll affect their performances. Already a large chunk of the Hearts squad look deprived of any confidence.
Levein has more than likely lost all faith with the supporters. Even a winning run similar to last year’s start of the season wouldn’t save him now. It’s important that the Jambos players continue to strive for points, with their side bottom of the league.
They go to Easter Road in need of a win. In a game of this magnitude, Hearts can’t afford to be overwhelmed by the occasion.