It had to be Aberdeen that dealt Hearts a setback in our pursuit of staying at the top of the league.
Based on the reactions from some Dons and Hibs fans about Sunday’s match, you’d think it was a decisive defeat. However, the reality is that Aberdeen managed to score with their only genuine attempt on goal.
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With Beni Baningime, Craig Halkett, and Lawrence Shankland unavailable, it’s clear we felt their absence at Pittodrie. The replacements—Tomas Magnusson, Michael Steinwender, and Landry Kabore—didn’t quite meet expectations.
There’s been considerable talk about the strength of Hearts’ squad this season, but the fact that making three changes significantly weakens our team raises concerns, especially with 31 senior players on our roster.
If we intend to compete at the top of the league, it’s crucial that we can adapt and have squad depth ready, especially as the season progresses and injuries, as well as suspensions, inevitably take their toll.
That said, it’s wise to avoid overly reacting to a string of results that include just one win in four games. Statistics can be manipulated to fit any narrative, but looking at the situation positively, this defeat marked Hearts’ first loss in 90 minutes since April and broke a 17-match unbeaten streak in the league.
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Expectations will be high for us to respond with a victory at Motherwell on Saturday, especially with 4,500 Jambos in support.
Derek McInnes’ tactics have faced criticism recently, including his choice to keep Oisin McEntee at right wing-back and his substitution decisions. It will be interesting to see how we set up against the Steelmen, who previously dominated us for 60 minutes at Tynecastle earlier this season.