While it may not have been a dominant performance, Heart of Midlothian’s narrow victory against Falkirk is just the kind of result head coach Derek McInnes believes can serve as “the bedrock of success” for his team leading the Scottish Premiership.
This win was essential, especially after last weekend’s disappointing 4-2 loss to Rangers, which had allowed the competition to close the gap at the top to just two points.
Hearts managed to regain their winning form on Saturday but faced a tough challenge against a confident Falkirk side.
A late first-half tap-in from recent signing Islam Chesnokov was the decisive moment, with McInnes acknowledging the palpable “anxiety” felt at Tynecastle.
There was a notable tension in the air ahead of the match, as the team dealt with the aftermath of the defeat at Ibrox and Falkirk’s recent success in the Scottish Cup at the same venue.
However, Hearts successfully navigated the emotional landscape and managed to cope with their ongoing injury troubles, extending their lead at the top to five points before Rangers’ game against bottom-placed Livingston on Sunday.
“Sometimes those 1-0 victories can provide a solid foundation for a team’s success,” McInnes noted. “History shows this to be true.”
‘We looked really anxious’ – McInnes
With title rivals finding their rhythm, more such wins will certainly be welcomed.
Rangers, under Danny Rohl, have only seen one defeat — against Porto in the Europa League — in their last 14 matches since losing to Hearts back in December.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Celtic are just six points behind Hearts with two games in hand and have lost only once in their last 11 fixtures, despite a rough 4-1 Europa League defeat at home to Stuttgart recently. They seem to be returning to form with some vital late goals under interim manager Martin O’Neill.
Motherwell also remains in contention, lying 10 points behind with a game in hand, having lost only once in their last ten outings.
McInnes acknowledged that Hearts’ form hasn’t been as impressive, with only three wins from their last seven matches, admitting, “During the first half, there was a 20-25 minute stretch where we appeared quite anxious.”
“Our defensive work was solid throughout the game, but we need to improve our attacking efforts.”
Nonetheless, the Hearts manager felt his side managed to handle the threat posed by John McGlynn’s team effectively.
“We performed much better in the second half,” he remarked. “We looked more likely to secure a second goal after the break.”
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“I follow Falkirk closely, and they usually apply relentless pressure on teams, creating numerous scoring opportunities. It’s rare for them not to find the net. Yet today, we managed to keep them at bay comfortably in the second half. Many were predicting a Falkirk win here, but I believe we deserved our victory.”
‘It doesn’t matter how you win’
Midfielder Blair Spittal, who stepped into the starting lineup at the last minute due to an injury to Ageu during warm-ups, echoed those sentiments.
“It was a bit tense at times, and we made it tough for ourselves, but at this stage of the season, the most important thing is to secure the win,” he said.
“We are aware of our position and must remain focused on each game without looking too far ahead.”
As BBC Sportsound pundit Rory Loy pointed out, “They can check that one off their list. The pressure is firmly on.”
Now it’s up to Rangers in West Lothian and Celtic, as they prepare to host Hibernian on Sunday.
McInnes added that it would certainly be enjoyable to watch Hearts’ rivals try and close the gap, but stressed the importance of focusing on his own squad. “You can’t allow yourself to be overly fixated on others,” he said. “We need to concentrate solely on our own performance.”
With just five matches remaining before the Premiership splits into two halves, and no room for slipped points, every win will be crucial.
What the fans said
Kris: It was tough to watch at times, but a win is still a win. Glad to see Chesny [Chesnokov] get on the scoresheet. Here’s hoping he builds on it.
Richard: Harry Milne’s contribution in the second half, after Blair Spittal’s solid first-half display, really drove us forward. Falkirk were organized, but Hearts played more expansively and deserved the edge enough for the win.
Ageu injured again? It’s about time players came with a warranty for their performance or they’d be fixed for free.
Steve: Given our lineup, Pierre Landry Kabore isn’t suited to be our main striker. Kabangu deserves a starting spot over another Jamestown flop. The midfield seems lackluster, and we were fortunate to come away with the three points.
I worry that, despite the three points, we’re struggling to secure results consistently. Too many underperformers.