Hearts in relegation battle, admits Fox

Hearts sit eighth in the table but are only five points above the play-off place

Hearts are "in trouble" if players do not acknowledge they are in a fight to preserve their Scottish Premiership status, insists interim head coach Liam Fox.

The Tynecastle side are five points ahead of Ross County in the play-off spot and travel to meet the Dingwall outfit on Saturday.

With Neil Critchley sacked following last weekend's home defeat to Dundee, Fox has taken temporary charge of the team for the second time this season.

When asked if Hearts are involved in a relegation battle, he replied: "I could sit here and say to you this, that and the other, but the reality is I'm okay with saying that because I think we are in a battle.

"I'm okay with the players knowing that because that's where we are.

"I always like to be somebody that tells the truth and doesn't dress things up. I don't need to tell the players that and I'm not going to tell the players that. If they don't realise that themselves then we're in trouble."

A win in Dingwall would go a long way to alleviate any fears of getting sucked into the scrap to avoid the play-off final.

And Fox, stepping up from his B-team role, is confident he can make a difference to a side that has gone four league games without scoring.

"I've always been somebody that would rather live my life by things that I did than things that I didn't do," the 41-year-old, who was in charge for three games prior to Critchley's appointment in October, said.

"Is there a risk involved? Of course there is. But I believe I can help.

"I believe I can bring some positivity back and win some points for us to take us out of this position that we're in.

"Our full focus is Ross County, which is going to be tough.

"You've always got a choice. You can feel sorry for yourself or you can roll your sleeves up and you can focus on what we have to do to go up there and hopefully win the game.

"I've worked hard and, if somebody had said to me, if you're going to risk personal failure or personal glory for any reason, I'd risk it for this football club."