Hearts striker Steven Naismith hasn’t tried to make excuses for Hearts’ poor start to the season. The Tynecastle side currently find themselves joint bottom of the Premiership following the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hamilton.
The veteran attacker has admitted that results like that just aren’t good enough for Hearts.
“To be honest, overall Saturday wasn’t good enough. We were miles off where we need to be” Naismith said, as reported by the Edinburgh Evening News.
“The whole team were shocking”
“Defensively, the whole team were shocking. That’s not something associated with a team like us.”
Hearts fans will appreciate the honesty shown by Naismith. He could have tried to make excuses for his team, but he probably knows that wouldn’t sit right with a currently disgruntled fan base.
What Hearts need to do now is get back to winning ways on the pitch after the international break. It won’t be easy though, as their first game back is against a Motherwell side who currently sit fifth in the Premiership table.
The game that follows that will be even more important as Hearts travel to Easter Road to take on a Hibs side who are also in poor form in the Edinburgh derby.
Wins will ease pressure on beleaguered manager
Two wins in those games will get the Hearts support back on side, and relieve some pressure on Craig Levein.
Naismith knows that what Hearts have been serving up this season has not been good enough. The fans gave their verdict following the draw with Hamilton, with a loud chorus of boss.
For that to change, they need some victories. Wins change everything in football. Craig Levein and his staff and the players have the international break to plan how to achieve Hearts’ first league win of the season.
Only time will tell if that happens, but if it does, perhaps his team-mates have taken Naismith’s comments to heart.