Heart of Midlothian

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Incredibly, this is just the second time Hearts have beaten Kilmarnock at Tynecastle in 12 games and they were certainly made to work for all three points.

That said, two of the three goals were slightly comical. Kabangu's came about as the result of two dreadful mis-hit shots from Grant and Wilson fell to the striker. The second was a well-worked corner but the third was the result of dreadful goalkeeping.

The hosts should have scored more - which has been a trait of Hearts under Critchley. Musa Drammeh hit the post and had a shot well saved by O'Hara in the second half and had either gone in, they would have wrapped the game up comfortably.

Defensively, they had to deal with the loss of Craig Halkett early on and Lewis Neilson struggled slightly when dropped in.

The young centre-back was on loan at St Johnstone in the first half of the season and will have to deputise while new signing Michael Steinwender finds fitness.

Ultimately, Hearts showed enough grit to hold on with some thanks to more heroics from Craig Gordon in goal - and with four wins in their last five, have perhaps finally turned the corner.

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Elton Kabangu. The Belgian striker has been a breath of fresh air for the Hearts front line. His physicality provides something James Wilson cannot, while his hold up play brings teammates into play well.

He took his goal well, but probably should have scored more - a sin plenty of his teammates were also guilty of.

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Hearts could include new signings Sander Kartum and Michael Steinwender, while Lawrence Shankland has a chance of returning after a five-game calf injury absence.

Calem Nieuwenhof is also in contention after being sidelined since last March with a hamstring problem. Frankie Kent (quad) and Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) are out long term.

Killie have lost Robby McCrorie (broken cheekbone), Brad Lyons (hamstring) and Rory McKenzie (stomach) but have Kyle Magennis back.

Matty Kennedy (back), Kyle Vassell, Stuart Findlay (ankle) and Innes Cameron (hamstring) remain out.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts "could be set for a busy last week of January", according to boss Neil Critchley, despite having already signed four players in the winter window.

Norwegian midfielder Sander Kartum and Austrian defender Michael Steinwender joined this week - adding to the arrivals of Jamie McCarth and Elton Kabangu - and Critchley confirmed he's eyeing further reinforcements.

"Anything can happen in January," the head coach said. "We're still looking, we're still searching. Obviously our squad now, if you looked at the numbers, is slightly top heavy, although some players have also departed in January.

"There might be one or two exits, but that might mean that one or two might arrive as well and it could be a busy last week of January.

"But we're really happy with the work that we've done so far and the players that we've brought in. Jamie, Elton, Michael and Sander, we think they'll contribute and reinforce us and strengthen us for the future."

Critchley could also be boosted by the return of Lawrence Shankland, who has missed the last few games with a calf complaint, for Saturday's visit of Kilmarnock.

"Possibly," the head coach said of a Shankland appearance. "He's done more training this week so that'll be a decision that we have to make on Lawrence and whether we think he's had enough to be in contention for the squad.

"He has been back out on the grass in training. That little break might actually do him the world of good because he played virtually every minute of every game.

"We're hopeful that maybe just refreshed him mentally and physically a little bit. But we also have to make sure he's done enough to be included."

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Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait has joined Livingston on loan until the end of the season, with manager Neil Critchley saying the 19-year-old "needs to play regular men's football".

Tait has featured just twice - both in the Conference League - for Hearts this term.

"It's the right thing for Macaulay at this stage of his development and his career," Critchley said of the loan move.

"He needs to play regular men's football, something that we can't guarantee for him here right now.

"He'll be going to a team that's doing very well, with an experienced manager that play good football and we think it'll suit Macaulay."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before Hearts face Kilmarnock in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:

• On newly-signed midfielder Sander Kartum and defender Michael Steinwender: "Delighted. Players we've been tracking for a while, really excited to bring them both here. We think they can impact the group immediately but also be good for us long term."

• Critchley is not ruling out further signings in this window: "We're still looking, we're still searching."

• But he says the squad is still "slightly top heavier numbers" and there may be "one or two" further exits.

• Having brought in four players this month, Critchley is "really happy" with the transfer business so far.

• Confidence is high in the squad after a five-game unbeaten run but Hearts are "not where we want to be" in the league.

• Lawrence Shankland could return from injury againt Killie: "Who knows, that little break might actually do him the world of good because he played virtually every minute of every game. So we're hopeful that maybe just refreshed him mentally and physically a little bit."

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New Hearts signing Sander Kartum says the "history" of the club appealed to him as he sealed his move from Norwegian side SK Brann.

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder is Hearts' fourth signing of the January window, joining Jamie McCart, Elton Kabangu, and Michael Steinwender in Gorgie.

"I heard it was a big club with a lot of history," he told Hearts TV.

"There are amazing fans too, so the opportunity to play here was big. I looked for the opportunity to play outside of Norway, and I just decided that this is something I have to do."

It is the first time the attacking midfielder has moved outside his homeland, having appeared for Stjordals-Blink, Kristiansund and Brann.

He will compete with Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda and Jorge Grant for a midfield berth, and helped Brann knock out St Mirren in Conference League qualifying earlier this season.

"I like to be creative and score goals," Kartum said. "I feel like the important thing is to fight for the team. When we played St Mirren, it was quite an experience on the football side.

"Tynecastle is a very big stadium. I heard a lot of good things about it with the fans and the atmosphere so I'm looking forward to getting my first playing minutes here."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes expects Danny Armstrong, who is out of contract this summer, will still be at Rugby Park come the end of the transfer window despite Heart of Midlothian being keen on the 27-year-old and a six-figure bid from an unnamed European club being rejected. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Hearts are winless in four league meetings with Kilmarnock (D2 L2), losing their past two in a row.

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership games away to Hearts (W6 D3), a 3-1 defeat in December 2022.

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in their past three league games, as many as their previous 22 beforehand. Not since January 2018 have Hearts gone longer without conceding in the Premiership (seven games).

• Kilmarnock are winless in six away league outings (D2 L4), with their last such win coming in October at Hearts (2-1).

• Only Celtic (345) have recorded more pressed sequences in the league this season than Hearts (307), while only Celtic (188) and Rangers (180) have forced more high turnovers than the Tynecastle side (153).

Brann have reached an agreement with Hearts for the transfer of midfielder Sander Kartum and the 29-year-old Norwegian is expected to travel to Edinburgh for a medical before a move said to be worth £320,000. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait, 19, is set to join Livingston on loan. (Hearts Standard), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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A conversation with former Hearts midfielder Peter Haring helped seal Michael Steinwender's move to Tynecastle.

The 24-year-old Austrian has joined the Gorgie side on a three-and-a-half-year deal from IFK Varnamo in Sweden's top flight.

The defender's agent was a team-mate of Haring at Rapid Vienna and also played alongside former ex-Hearts player Donis Avdijaj at Hartberg.

"They only said good things about the club," Steinwender told HeartsTV. "And when I heard about the fans and the crowd, I was very excited to come here."

On what he feels he can bring to the team, the centre-back, who is available for this weekend's match with Kilmarnock, added: "I would say my attributes are I like to defend.

"I like headers, I like to talk a lot with my people and try to help everybody. That's how I am. And I have the attribute to be very fast."

Steinwender "almost got goosebumps" on a tour of Hearts' facilities, adding: "It's impressive. The stadium and then also in Oriam, they have everything. In my old club, it was not like that.

"I can't wait to step my first foot into the stadium and play a game. I'm very excited to be here and very happy."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

They say all that matters in cup competition is you progress to the next stage, although for 13 minutes up in Brechin the idea of Hearts reaching the fifth round seemed far from certain.

After Scott Bright's wonder strike, away supporters feared they were going to see a cup shock against Highland League opposition in person for the first time, after Covid restrictions saved us from witnessing the defeat to Brora Rangers four years ago.

Thankfully, Yan Dhanda equalised just before half-time to save our blushes and our voices from going hoarse from a cacophony of booing. We then really took control in the second half and eventually ran out 4-1 winners thanks to an own goal and a double from new frontman Elton Kabangu.

We face a fifth-round trip to Paisley to take on St Mirren in a match that could very well go all the way to penalties.

If you want a lucky omen, the last time we lifted the Scottish Cup, in 2012, we defeated the Buddies en route to Hampden after defeating non-league opposition in Auchinleck Talbot in the fourth round. That means games against Celtic and Hibs to follow!

Of course, we need to keep the blinkers on and Derek McInnes' Kilmarnock are our next obstacle in our bid to finally leave 11th place in the table.

Simply put, this game is a must win. While victory could lift us as high as seventh, a defeat coupled with a Ross County win versus Hibs could see us three points adrift in that relegation play-off spot.

We may even see a new face or two this weekend, with Norwegian creative midfielder Sander Kartum seemingly set to arrive.

Kartum is likely to play as a number 10 and favours his left foot. If he can be even as half as successful as our last playmaker with a wand of a left foot, Rudi Skacel, he'll be a hit.

Forward Elton Kabangu, 26, does not want to finish this term "with only two" after scoring his first Hearts goals in Friday's 4-1 Scottish Cup win over Brechin City and promises "more". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Hearts' 4-1 win against Brechin.

Here's what some of you said:

Derek: Dodgy pitch was a real leveller, but it was a good performance in the end. Yan Dhanda looked like a man with a point to prove, and got a deserved goal, and Elton Kabangu looks a good shout for the rest of the season. Jorge Grant was unlucky, James Wilson was class, but Cammy Devlin and James Penrice outshone everyone. Not a finished article, but signs that we're improving.

Jim: Brilliant opener from Brechin and equaliser from Dhanda. Fitness told in the end and Hearts ran out comfortable winners. However, even this game still showed that Hearts lack a creative midfielder who can run with the ball and that they are severely weak upfront. For me, Kenneth Vargas can get on the first plane back to Costa Rica - he's useless!

Alan: A real Jekyll and Hyde performance from Hearts. The first half an hour we were absolutely awful, the second half we played some good stuff, good attacking play especially down the left side. This team shows they can turn it on when they want to. Big Elton knows the game and knows the way to goal. His physicality will cause teams a lot of problems.

Jimbo: At last something seems to be slowly happening with the team, they're not leaking goals, this team now needs time to play together and with more possible additions, belief and confidence from the players will come. The league is tight but I'm hopeful we can climb the table into the top six. Silly points dropped previously could hurt us though.

Steve: First half was a blood and guts cup tie, narrow heavy pitch didn't help. Craig Halkett and Kabangu were standouts. Good to see Wilson coming on as substitute, as at this point he's not a 90 minute player. Big question marks about our midfield, that's where we need new faces. Just relieved we got through this round.

John: Not the best performance but job done on a poor pitch against a physical side. Excellent goal from Dhanda, showing hunger. Hopefully the floodgates will open for Kabangu. Vargas trying to claim that goal is embarrassing. He's an imposter and needs moved on.

Hearts are pursuing Sander Kartum as they look to add an attack-minded midfielder to their squad, with Norwegian side SK Brann willing to sell the 29-year-old. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley reacts to his side's 4-1 Scottish Cup win over Brechin City with Sportscene's Jonathan Sutherland, Darren Dods and Craig Levein.

Hearts came from behind to ease past Highland League side Brechin City and progress to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

First-half substitute Scott Bright fired Brechin in front with a magnificent 35-yard strike in what was his second game for the Angus club.

Neil Critchley's side appeared to struggle with the conditions and it took another wonder goal to get Hearts level before the break as Yan Dhanda curled beyond Lenny Wilson.

Hearts took the lead early in the second half when Elton Kabangu floated a dangerous cross into the hosts' penalty area and defender Kevin McHattie's attempted clearance carried the ball towards goal as Kenneth Vargas attempted to get the final touch.

Kabangu scored his first Hearts goals with a tidy finish and a conversion off James Wilson's inch-perfect pass.

Hearts fans, were you at the game or following the action from home? Either way we want to know what you made of the performance.

Have your say, external