Hearts roared back from three goals down to earn a draw at home to Motherwell in a ridiculous six-goal Scottish Premiership thriller.
Does Claudio Braga have to start for you? What issues do Hearts need to resolve? How much confidence does another comeback give you?
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Derek McInnes: "We were on the floor. We've dug deep to get an important point which keeps us unbeaten in the league.
"You don't want to be 3-0 down but when you are 3-0 down with so few minutes left you take the point.
"We could have won it in the end with one off the post and a few bobbling about the goal.
"But for long spells Motherwell were too comfortable. The first goal at Tynecastle can make the job twice as hard if you lose it, and twice as comfortable if you get it.
"It was a tough situation and the players deserve a lot of credit."
Image source, SNSHearts will be without goalkeepers Ryan Fulton (groin) and Craig Gordon (shoulder), as well as Jamie McCart (ankle), Kenneth Vargas (hip), Finlay Pollock (hamstring) and Christian Borchgrevink (thigh).
Homegrown keepers Harry Stone and Liam McFarlane are vying for a place in the squad alongside Zander Clark.
Motherwell could hand a debut to Callum Hendry and welcome back Liam Gordon and Callum Slattery.
Tom Sparrow drops out and Jonny Koutroumbis remains on the sidelines along with long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee) and Zach Robinson (Achilles).
Alfie Robinson
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSPasquale Bruno played in a Scottish Cup final and a League Cup final during his two seasons at Tynecastle
Italian hardman Pasquale Bruno recalls how his move to Hearts initially gave him sleepless nights - because of animal noises.
Defender Bruno, a Uefa Cup winner with Juventus, moved to Tynecastle at age 33 for a two-year stint in 1995.
"I wanted to play in England at first to learn the language, and then I got an offer to go to Hearts," he told the Sacked in the Morning podcast.
"I knew Hearts because of Joe Jordan, and I knew him because he had been in Italy playing.
"So I fly to Edinburgh and arrive Friday night, and Jim Jefferies puts me in the Holiday Inn beside the zoo. I couldn't sleep because of all the animals making noises!
"First game we win 3-0 against Partick Thistle, and Jim Jefferies said 'Pasquale, how was it, do you want to stay?' and I said yes, but I need to change hotels.
"I noticed the Caledonian and asked if I could stay there. He said that's okay.
"Caledonian became my house because I spent two years there. I said to Jim I need a place to eat, and he said Bar Roma. So for two years it was Caledonian and Bar Roma."
Bruno's personality, aggression and tenacious style of play made him a fans' favourite at Tynecastle.
His reputation left nothing to the imagination, and his combative style was soon obvious.
"My second game for Hearts was an Edinburgh derby against Hibs, I defended a long ball near the corner and a Hibs player made a strong tackle," the Italian added.
"I thought, 'Wow, in Italy nobody can touch me like that!'
"So I said 'hey you' and he said 'go away', or something similar. So anyway, after two minutes it was a yellow card for me because I 'killed' him."
Image source, SNSWighton scored one goal in seven appearances for Montrose this season
Former Dundee, Hearts and Dunfermline striker Craig Wighton has announced his immediate retirement from professional football at the age of 28.
Wighton joined Montrose earlier this summer after a loan spell from Dunfermline last season, but says he can no longer "cope with the physical demands" on his body.
Capped six times at Under-21 level by Scotland, Wighton won the Championship with both Dundee and Hearts, while he also lifted the League 1 trophy with Dunfermline.
Wighton has struggled with knee problems since an ACL injury in 2017 and told his family, friends and team-mates of the decision yesterday.
"Just want to thank Montrose for the short time I've been here, I've really enjoyed the changing room and appreciate how nice everyone connected to the club has been," Wighton said.
"This is a decision I feel I've had to make as I can't cope with the physical demands on my body any more and I can't perform the way I want to and know that I can.
"I also want to thank the manager for understanding and for how well he took the news when I had the conversation - that meant a lot to me.
"I wish Montrose nothing but the best for the season, I'll be supporting the boys and have no doubt they'll have a successful season as they are a great group of players and guys!"
Image source, SNSNo player has scored more goals in the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership than Hearts defender Stuart Findlay (three). It's already his joint-highest scoring season in the competition, while he could become the first player to score in each of his first three top-flight appearances for Hearts since Rudi Skacel netted in his first seven in 2005-06.
Hearts have won six of their past seven home league games against Motherwell, including each of their latest three in a row since a 1-0 reverse in September 2023.
Motherwell have only had one win in their past six Scottish Premiership games against Hearts (D1 L4), a 3-1 victory in August 2024.
Hearts have won each of their past six games in the Scottish Premiership, last winning more in a row in the top flight in September 2005 under George Burley (eight).
Motherwell have only won two of their past 13 away league games (D3 L8), 2-1 wins at Rangers in March and Dundee in May.
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before the Premiership home game against Motherwell this weekend.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
An injury to Ryan Fulton, who is out for three to four months with a groin tear, has "accelerated" the need to find a new goalkeeper.
With Fulton sidelined and Craig Gordon still recovering from injury, Liam McFarlane has been recalled from his Alloa Athletic loan.
McInnes also revealed that 21-year-old midfielder Finlay Pollock has suffered a fresh hamstring injury that "doesn't look good for him".
McInnes says neither his nor Hearts' "bubble has burst" after last week's defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup, instead insisting his "bubble is absolutely bubbling".
He adds: "I'm not going to have this negativity hanging about. At Hearts, we need to be ready to bounce back quickly."
McInnes is now "totally focused on making sure that we continue what's been a good start" and reiterates that the club's feelgood factor cannot be diminished, adding: "We've got a lot going for us here, and it's important that we try and maximise that."
He is targeting two wins in the next two matches to maintain Hearts' 100% Premiership start as they want to end the opening group of fixtures strongly before the first international break.
McInnes praised Motherwell's style change under new manager Jens Berthel Askou: "A lot of that has been with a lot of the players who were already in the building, and obviously they've brought a few players in to try and help with that style. And you'd have to say, up until now, they've done really well."
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
I've got to be honest, I've missed the overreaction you find from Hearts supporters on a Saturday night after a defeat.
I say defeat, yet the truth was we were a Claudio Braga saved penalty away from perhaps progressing to the quarter-finals of the League Cup at St Mirren's expense.
Despite this, you can believe that most performances from those wearing maroon were questioned at some point during the journey back along the M8 - from Zander Clark's 'almost' save in the shoot-out to the ineffectiveness of Oisin McEntee at right-wing back.
Ultimately, every Jambo was unanimous in their assertion that head coach Derek McInnes had to bear the brunt of responsibility for our cup exit – and to be fair, he did hold his hands up.
McInnes saying pre-match that Hearts players should aspire to win this trophy and that we need to get to the final really ramped up the stakes but the reality is that we were not equipped for the challenge that awaited us in Paisley.
Having three guys making their first team starts - Pierre Landry Kabore, Alexandros Kyziridis and Tomas Magnusson - against top-flight opposition away to a Stephen Robinson side was always a tad ambitious, given they are all adjusting to life at Hearts.
Add in shoehorning McEntee at right wing back in a new 3-4-3 system was always a tad bizarre, given how much he's been great in the midfield engine room. For McInnes to see fit to go a man less in the midfield really was his biggest error of judgement so far as our gaffer in competitive games.
You reap what you sow and to be honest I didn't think we genuinely ever looked like scoring from open play over the 120 minutes and that's got to be a concern for us.
The thing I was frustrated with most from last Saturday was that James Wilson left with more splinters from the bench than minutes on the pitch.
At the risk of feeling the wrath of supporters and the latest flavour of the month, Braga, I would honestly rather start Wilson with Lawrence Shankland than with any other striker. I just feel Wilson has the highest ceiling of any of the players we have in the bloated first team squad and we should be rewarding him after carrying the team at times on his own last season.
The Motherwell game will be interesting to see how McInnes sets the team up. A flat back four with Michael Steinwender playing at right-back has to be what we go with, unless he brings Adam Forrester out of the footballing wilderness, where he's been in for the past couple of weeks following his interrupted loan spell at St Johnstone.
With our expected rivals for third place concentrating on their European exploits for the next week, we've really got to capitalise against the Steelmen and pick up three points to continue our 100 per cent league record.
Brighton are among the English Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on Hearts' Scotland under-16 international Keir McMeekin. (Daily Record), external
Image source, SNSFormer Celtic and Kilmarnock striker Cillian Sheridan was "surprised" to see Hearts knocked out of the League Cup.
Investor Tony Bloom made it clear that success for Hearts this season is silverware and, at the very least, upsetting the old firm dominance of the Scottish Premiership.
But after losing on penalties to St Mirren on Saturday, the opportunity for a trophy is getting slimmer.
Sheridan felt the performance against Stephen Robinson's side was not that of a typical Derek McInnes team.
"Yeah I am surprised at the level of performance," he told the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.
"Probably not a typical Derek McInnes team performance. It definitely would have been a game that they really fancied.
"Even hearing the way Derek McInnes was talking before the game about players coming to win trophies there and win silverware, I think that kind of was planted in the players' heads.
"He's probably come in to win as well and he would have seen that as a chance. So that'll be big disappointment for them.
Despite the loss Sheridan thinks Hearts can still achieve success, and certainly doesn't feel this result should cause panic yet.
"I'd fancy Derek's teams usually to bounce back from performances like that," he added.
"He's a good man manager, motivator. He'll get them up again for their next game.
"Also, I think you have to give St Mirren their credit. You cant forget how good and hard to play against they are.
"It's not like they've got knocked out to a lower league team or a team lower down the table. They've been put out by a good hard-to-beat St Mirren team".
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes has vowed Hearts will improve after their "sore" Premier Sports Cup defeat.
The Tynecastle club's winning start to the season was ended by St Mirren on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Paisley.
But the new manager is confident there are better days ahead for his side.
"There's nothing wrong with saying that we want to get into cup finals and be successful because that's our responsibility and I believe we will be," McInnes said.
"But there's also got to be a recognition that we're coming from a long way back.
"We've played the team who finished fifth last season, Aberdeen, we beat them. We've played the team who finished fourth last season, Dundee United.
"Now we've played the team who finished sixth, so it's all top-six teams, teams who have been building for the last couple of years and it's not straightforward just to come to these places and win, as we've seen.
"A lot of our boys will have seen inside Scottish football and what cup ties take here in this country.
"I still think we can be better, but there's been more good than not and I'm enjoying working with the lads and they've knocked their pan in.
"I'm disappointed for the supporters because they all came with high expectations, but we will improve, we'll get better as we go along.
"It's a sore one but we'll now set ourselves small targets ahead of the international break and hopefully we can bounce back into work on Monday and get back to winning ways."
We asked for your views on Hearts' defeat on penalties against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: Looked like a team believing their own hype about winning trophies but with no clue about the effort and commitment needed to actually do this. A reality check showing we are evenly matched with a team that just made the top-six.
Calum: Way too early in the season to be throwing the proverbial toys, but I'm not sure Hearts are suited to this three at the back. We look a lot more dynamic with four! Also a strange game to chuck our new signings into. We need *far* more creativity against a team that sits deep.
Jockie: The blame lies at Derek McInnes' feet, the wrong team was picked to start a one-off game. It should have been our strongest team playing, not starting with two players who had barely kicked a ball competitively for Hearts.
Colin: Too many Hearts fans are delusional if they think we can split the Old Firm! Having watched all the games so far we have a long way to go. We are a work in progress, we came up short against a team who battle hard. We are not clinical enough and too passive.
Alistair: We couldn't handle the closing down and man marking of the Saints and suffered with a starting line-up containing too many players making debuts. This was the first time McInnes got his team selection and tactics wrong and it cost us dearly.
Paul: St Mirren are a nightmare to play against. Huge team, who fight and scrap for everything but if you know that beforehand then you need to have your team in the same mindset. Hearts don't seem capable of doing that.
St Mirren prevailed on penalties against Hearts to reach the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals after a tense match in the Paisley sunshine.
Shamal George's save to deny Claudio Braga resulted in the only unconverted spot-kick in the shootout as the Buddies avenged last season's loss on penalties to Hearts in the Scottish Cup.
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Derek McInnes: "I've got to admit that I thought St Mirren came out of the traps better than us, thought they were first to every ball, thought they were brighter, just when we thought we'd kind of contained it and we were kind of going toe to toe with them a wee bit, we lost a really poor goal.
"So, disappointed with that goal, but I thought we were a better team in the second half, I thought the changes helped us, I thought we were a better team through extra time.
"We deservedly got a goal, I thought we looked more likely to win the game than St Mirren throughout that, but you have to say we've not lost the game because St Mirren scored all of their penalties, we've said that to the players as well.
"We've lost the game because we've not taken advantage of being in control of the game. We've got to find more, we've got to find within ourselves, somebody to make that extra run, first contact, the confidence to go and take people on more, and just to try to force the game a wee bit.
"I don't think we accepted going on the penalties, and I think that would be wrong. I think that's too far, but with the same token, we didn't do enough to win it in the extra time and saying that, I thought we were the better team.
"But I congratulate St Mirren, they've won a tie that was always going to be a tight tie, we felt it was going to be, and we have not done enough to win it.
"I think, you know, coming away to Paisley, maybe I started one or two too many who are still new to the Scottish game and that's something for me to resonate with and think about tonight and over the next few days."
Image source, SNSHarry Milne is relishing the opportunity to stake his claim for the left-back spot in Hearts' new era after the summer departure of James Penrice to AEK Athens "opened a door".
Milne has started the first two games of the Premiership campaign after being restricted to just three appearances in the second half of last term following his January move from Partick Thistle.
"I'm really enjoying it. I made no secret last year that I wanted to come in and play football," said the 28-year-old.
"James had such an amazing season last season. It was always going to be quite tough for me coming into that environment to try and displace him.
"He's got a move now, which he thoroughly deserves, it's opened a door for me. It's also opened a door for Stephen Kingsley as well, who's still here.
"There's a lot of competition for places and that's the same all over the squad. For me personally, to be able to get that nod in the first couple of games and deliver half-decent performances is a good way to go about it.
"Through the summer, I've worked hard and whether James was here or not, I was going to try and push him all the way to get that place. With that new manager bounce, everyone wants to impress."
Milne, who was cup tied for Hearts' defeat by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April, hopes to help his side take a step towards returning to Hampden when they visit St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup second round on Saturday.
"To see half of Hampden all filled out in that maroon was special for me," he added.
"We're two games away from getting a semi-final at Hampden, so that's got to be the target."
Hearts are set to have Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof back after injury but Craig Gordon, Jamie McCart, Finlay Pollock and Kenneth Vargas remain sidelined.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSSimo Valakari has no issues with Hearts loanee Adam Forrester making a quick return to Tynecastle, with the St Johnstone manager saying "we all knew" how the cooperation agreements would work.
Under the new Scottish FA initiative, Premiership teams are able to send under-21 players to clubs lower in the pyramid over and above the current loan system.
Last week Hearts entered into a player partnership with St Johnstone and right-back Adam Forrester moved to Perth on a season-long loan.
However, such is the fluidity of the cooperation system, he has now returned to Tynecastle because of an injury to right-back Christian Borchgrevink.
Valakari said: "Nothing has changed. I would like to have him very much here, but we all knew it.
"Hearts have the power. Adam as a player, he knew what that type of agreement is.
"If something happens they can call him back. They did call him back so he is now there. Now he is there I am not going to waste any more of my focus on this and this.
"For me we knew it when we signed the agreement that can happen, it happened.
"Yes he can [come back to St Johnstone in the future] but I can't control what Hearts are doing, so we are focused on what we have here."
Image source, SNSFormer defender Robbie Neilson had two spells as Hearts boss
Can Hearts live up to Tony Bloom's audacious claim they can vie for the title this season?
New minority shareholder Bloom wants Hearts to be champions within 10 years, but former manager Robbie Neilson says the first aim is to challenge the established big two.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Neilson said: "It's now about competing against the Old Firm for Hearts. That's where I see them. They look the dominant third force.
"The question will be can they make the step to go beyond one of them, which is obviously with Tony Bloom coming in? That's what they're trying to do.
"But I think it will be very, very difficult over the course of a full season.
"One of the big things about Hearts is momentum, especially when you're at Tynecastle. If you can build that momentum of winning games, which they have managed to do in the group stages of the League Cup, you then take that into the league.
"It's really there at the moment, but the first big question will be when the Old Firm come to town, can you turn them over?
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
No wonder there is renewed optimism around Tynecastle this season. And the team's flying start to the campaign has further bolstered the feelgood factor.
The majority of the new signings have hit the ground running and there is a visible bounce in the step of everyone associated at Hearts.
New investor Tony Bloom's comments about challenging for the title maybe caught some people off guard, but the Brighton owner has a track record of success both in business and sport, so when he speaks we should listen.
Derek McInnes has also introduced an attacking and more robust style of play that is exciting for supporters to watch. In the six games played so far his team have scored 21 goals and conceded just three.
But the shots on goal tally - over 100 - is quite astonishing and provides evidence that the new players and the style is working.
This weekend is likely to be the toughest test so far for Hearts.
St Mirren tend to give the Tynecastle side a difficult time in Paisley, as was the case last season with Hearts suffering a league defeat and penalty shootout win in the Scottish Cup.
But there is a steeliness in this Hearts team that has been missing for some years. And roared on again by a huge travelling support, they will travel with a positive outlook of reaching the last eight of the League Cup.
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSRoss Grant was appointed as Hearts set-play coach in June
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has hailed the impact of set-play coach Ross Grant.
Grant joined in June from Dundee United, having previously worked under former Hearts and Scotland coach Austin MacPhee.
McInnes' side continued their flawless start to the season on Saturday at Tannadice with a 3-2 win where all three goals stemmed from dead-ball scenarios.
And McInnes says Grant's influence has been important as Hearts seek minor gains.
"Set-plays have always been a huge part for any team," he said. "I've seen the gains that can be made and as a manager, you have to take advantage. There's a lot of clubs so finely balanced and sometimes set-plays can be the difference.
"We've obviously brought in Ross to aid us with that and it's his job to look forensically at the opposition and where we can get gains.
"It's something we've always done as a staff, but we've got that added time and added focus on it from Ross. He's done brilliant and long may it continue.
"It's about identifying areas where we can get as much joy as possible. Underneath it all, it's about good deliveries, good timing and aggressive players wanting to get on the end of it.
"I'm glad we've got Ross. He's been huge value to us and it's good that he's getting recognition for his work because his work is good."
