What has become of Hearts...

Derek McInnes acknowledges that league leaders Hearts are striving to regain their early-season “swagger” after dropping more points recently.

Hearts have only secured three points out of the last 15 available, with Saturday’s draw against Motherwell marking their third tie in five matches.

Given Aberdeen’s explosive start and subsequent decline last season, many are curious about how long Hearts can sustain their position at the top of the Premiership.

Their electrifying start featured seven wins and a draw in the first eight games, including a triumph against Rangers at Ibrox, a derby win over Hibs, and a significant defeat of Celtic.

This victory against the champions initially put Hearts eight points clear, but they have faced challenges since then. Is this just a temporary setback, or is their title challenge beginning to unravel?

“We have obviously elevated expectations, and everyone, including myself, anticipated a win [against Motherwell],” head coach McInnes told BBC Scotland.

“However, we haven’t shown the same rhythm or potency in our attacking play. We need to find that again.

“It’s just one defeat in 14 games, which is commendable for our club. But with the raised expectations, we didn’t get too carried away when we were winning regularly.

“I’m pleased we are five points clear and achieving a solid points total right now.

“We must get back to exhibiting the attacking flair we had earlier. Individually, players were performing at a high level, scoring from both set pieces and open play.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t maintained that in the last couple of matches, and we must acknowledge that. But we believe we have the solutions within the squad.”

Missing Baningime’s Impact

Hearts struggled for extended periods against Motherwell. Despite the return of striker Lawrence Shankland, who missed last week’s loss to Aberdeen due to injury, the team lacked offensive power, achieving an xG (expected goals) of only 0.33 in their second consecutive game without scoring.

They recorded just nine shots, their fewest in a Premiership match this season, with only one on target.

Yet not all is lost; earning a point against an in-form Motherwell can be viewed as a testament to Hearts’ resilience. Nevertheless, the dynamism and energy seen earlier in the season are lacking, and the absence of injured midfielder Beni Baningime may have thrown the team’s balance off. Baningime has missed the last three games, none of which Hearts have triumphed in.

“We’re perhaps lacking in control, possibly due to Baningime’s absence in midfield,” McInnes noted.

“We need to address this, as with him and Ageu out, we’ve been exploring various options to improve our performance.

“For us to regain that flair and confidence in our play, we must strive for greater control on the pitch.

“The league table speaks the truth, but we are eager to return to winning ways—and Wednesday’s home match gives us a chance to do just that.”

The upcoming home game against Kilmarnock, who have not won in seven matches, presents an ideal opportunity for McInnes’ side to get back on track.

Securing three points becomes even more critical considering Hearts have a challenging away fixture against Celtic next Sunday, which could significantly influence their title aspirations this season.

Fan Reactions

Stuart: Opponents seem to have figured out our tactics. It’s time to adjust and diversify our approach before we lose our momentum.

Steve: It was tough to watch. We lacked control across the pitch, and some players, like Stuart Findlay and Claudio Braga, seem to be struggling and could benefit from a break.

Chris: Disappointing. I’m concerned about team selection, which is costing us points and affecting performances. We look disjointed, and players are out of position, which is taking its toll. Today was the first time I’ve doubted whether we are actually a good team.

Jim: A hard-earned point! Many teams struggle at Fir Park, so I see it as a significant result against a rapidly improving Motherwell side. Although we had an off day, particularly in attack, I still expect us to finish in the top three, at the very least.

Jonathan: We’ve lost our cutting edge in attack, and our play has become overly cautious. We’re really missing Beni Baningime, and the substitutes haven’t stepped up in his absence. I still believe we can find a winning streak again if Derek figures out the right approach.

What has become of Hearts…