What Steven Naismith has said on Hearts successor Neil Critchley as he gives his thoughts

Add as preferred source on Google

Neil Critchley is coming under fire from Hearts fans once again after losing another derby to Hibs.

The Englishman has generally improved the Jambos‘ fortunes since taking over and they now sit seventh rather in the relegation spots which is where they previously found themselves. They have lost two of their last ten league games.

There have still been sticky moments however and Hearts fans demanded Critchley was sacked after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw with Ross County in the dying moments.

Around that time, there was also a defeat to a Kilmarnock team that played most of the game with 10 men as well as a draw with Moldovan minnows Petrocub to crash out of the Conference League.

The 2-1 defeat to Hibs means that the manager has now lost two derbies and drawn one, while Hearts haven’t registered a victory in the bigger games against Aberdeen, Celtic or Rangers yet either.

Fans are using that as a stick with which to beat Critchley, with the claim his big game record is poor.

• READ MORE: Hearts hero mocks Hibs ‘run this city’ claims despite ‘wake up call’

Naismith defends Hearts successor Critchley

The 46-year-old’s record in the Premiership reads: P21 W10 D4 L7. And that’s after inheriting a side whose confidence was at rock bottom.

Steven Naismith was the manager who couldn’t get them winning at the start of the season and he reckons his successor is doing a good job.

He also believes Hearts can still finish third this season.

“I think the job he’s done has been really good,” the former boss told Hearts Standard. “I think they are in a good position from the start of the season and they’re still right in the mix for third.

“That’s got to be the main focus. You’re hoping that they can get top six and there’ll be another derby that they can rectify that part of it.

“That’s all still doable so I think that’s what you’ve got to look at.

“You look at the form over since the turn of the year, it’s been fantastic.”

Naismith praises Critchley’s post-Hibs response

Critchley admitted Hearts weren’t themselves in the derby and didn’t deserve to get back into the game with their second half performance.

He also said he would block out all of the outside noise and focus on improving the things that need to better.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	AberdeenAberdeen	29	12	6	11	38	46	-8	42
5	Dundee UtdDundee Utd	29	11	8	10	36	36	0	41
6	MotherwellMotherwell	29	11	4	14	34	48	-14	37
7	Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian	29	10	6	13	41	40	1	36
8	Ross CountyRoss County	29	9	8	12	31	49	-18	35
9	St MirrenSt Mirren	29	10	4	15	35	47	-12	34
10	KilmarnockKilmarnock	29	8	7	14	33	47	-14	31

Naismith praised that approach, adding: “I think after the game he said he’s going to look at it and then speak to the squad, I think that’s the right way to do it..

“It’s not nice, the anger and the frustration because it’s more than a game, it’s more than the three points. 

“I think that’s something until you go to the club you don’t realise how much those games do hang on the manager. It probably amplifies how losing two back to back isn’t great.”