Heart of Midlothian

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Nineteen years ago today, Hearts trounced city rivals Hibernian 4-0 at Tynecastle as they made a flying start to a tumultuous 2005-06 campaign.

Rudi Skacel introduced himself to the Gorgie faithful by prodding in the opener after 13 minutes, before Paul Hartley doubled the hosts' lead from the penalty spot.

Stephen Simmons' finish preceded Hibs keeper Zbigniew Malkowski being bested for a fourth time as Saulius Mikoliunas completed the rout in style with a finish from outside the box.

Hibs boss Tony Mowbray was sent to the stands, while new Tynecastle manager George Burley rejoiced in his side's "very pleasing" victory.

The party didn't last long for Burley, however. Despite leading Hearts to the top of the table with an unbeaten 10-game run to start the season, he left the club in late October because of "irreconcilable differences" with the board.

Three managers later, the Jambos would finish the memorable season in second place - qualifying for the Champions League - and lift the Scottish Cup against underdogs Gretna following a nervy battle at Hampden that came down to penalties.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

After the discontent around pre-season results from some Jambos, who knew that we’d have left Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon bemoaning the fact that we didn’t pick up all three points against Rangers.

Before anyone takes these words literally, of course I am jesting and I was absolutely heartened at our first performance of the season. There were probably three things Steven Naismith was looking for going into the match; an unbeaten start, a clean sheet and a positive performance. It’s fair to say that we got that, especially in the first half and on another day, we would have been at least one goal to the good going in at the break.

There were strong performances from all players in Hearts jerseys, especially the starting debutants in James Penrice, Yan Dhanda and the ‘Costa Rican Cafu’ in Gerald Taylor. He deservedly won Man of the Match for his performance in the first hour of the contest, as he displayed his pace, dribbling and strength to the point that his opponent in Rangers’ Oscar Cortes, had to be substituted off the pitch.

Even Zander Clark, who had been sweating over a start with Craig Gordon breathing down his neck, showed why he is the man in pole position to line up in goals now for Hearts with a couple of smart saves when called upon during the 90 minutes.

It’s imperative that we follow up that impressive outing with another positive showing in Dundee on Saturday. There’s no doubt that Tony Docherty’s men will be a tough side to break down, and are more than capable of scoring goals and avoiding defeat should be the minimum objective going into the encounter. Of course, Naismith managed to dramatically improve our away results last season and he will fancy our chances of leaving the City of Discovery with all three points.

The squad that has been assembled now, with the latest addition of ex-Dee Malachi Boateng to the midfield engine room, only illustrates the popular belief across Scottish football that this Hearts side is the third best in the country. It’s rumoured that Columbian left-back Andres Salazar is set to join in the next week and it’s a salivating prospect to think another international player is joining this squad. Let’s hope he’s more of a Takis Fyssas than a Juwon Oshinawa when it comes to capped left-backs.

Hopefully that deal is concluded so that Salazar can be named in the Hearts squad for the Europa League play-off games against Kryvbas Kryvyi or Viktoria Plzen in just over a fortnight’s time. There’s no doubt that both will be formidable opposition and you’d assume that we will face the Czechia side given their recent pedigree in European competition but I think the fact that the second match will be at Tynecastle can be a massive advantage.

The atmosphere last Saturday was fantastic and on a European night under the lights at Tynecastle for a high stakes game, you’d expect it to be heightened and hopefully allow us to qualify for the Europa League group stages for the first time in its current iteration.

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Stephen Kingsley says signing a new three-year deal with Hearts was "an easy decision".

The versatile defender joined the club in 2020 from Hull City and has became a fans' favourite during his time at Tynecastle.

The 30-year-old's 2022/23 campaign was hampered by a number of injuries, but he made 33 league appearances last season as Hearts eased to third-place in the Premiership.

"I'm delighted. It's been talked about for a wee while, a few months now," Kingsley told Hearts TV. "I'm just delighted to get it over the line and to really focus on the season ahead.

"It was an easy decision. A couple of conversations with the manager sealed the deal for me. I am happy here, happy with the way the club is going, it's an exciting time ahead.

"On the pitch, it's an exciting project and I'm delighted to be a part of it. Off the pitch, it's ideal for myself and my family. I've got kids that love coming to games now and it's close to home."

Head coach Steven Naismith told club media Kingsley has "more than earned this new contract".

"He ticks loads of boxes for Hearts," he added.

"He's experienced, he's played internationally, and he's got a level of consistency and performance. I'm delighted we've got it sorted and, to be honest, it was an easy one to do.

"He understands what the club can give him in his life, and we get a fantastic professional who can help drive standards as we look to progress."

Melbourne Victory have targeted Heart of Midlothian's Australia right-back Nathaniel Atkinson, 25. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Zander Clark edged it as the pick of the goalkeepers this weekend in the 0-0 draw with Rangers.

Without question Gerald Taylor, was man of the match on his competitive debut.

An exciting prospect for the Jambos.

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Steven Naismith says Hearts will be fully prepared for their Europa League play-off tie, be it against Ukraine's Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Czech side Viktoria Plzen.

The Jambos head coach anticipates a tough game, but insists he was pleased with the outcome of the draw.

Hearts are guaranteed group-stage football regardless of the result in the play-off. Win and they make the Europa League proper, lose and they drop into the Conference League.

"Two different teams," Naismith told club media, external, reacting to the draw. "Plzen have obviously got [European] experience. Kryvbas are less known to us, but they will be tough games.

"Before now and the games, we'll do everything to research them and put a gameplan together to get through the tie. We're happy with the draw and we'll see if we can get through it.

"We're quite big on the detail we want to go into. They've got this tie, so we'll get a look at the two teams in the games but we'll want to do more than that.

"The more you're in [Europe], the more comfortable you are and the more you understand the demands. They are midweek, full houses - it's all a bit different. The following fixtures are the ones where we really need to be on it."

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Hearts will take on Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League play-off.

Steven Naismith's side, third in last season's Premiership, will be away from home first on 22 August against Ukraine's Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, who are playing their home ties in Slovakia, or Czech side Viktoria Plzen. The return leg at Tynecastle will be on 29 August.

Both of the potential opponents finished third in their domestic league last term.

Win and Hearts are through to the league phase, lose and they will enter the Conference League group stage.

Contract talks between Heart of Midlothian and Stephen Kingsley, 30, are nearing a conclusion, with the defender poised to commit his future to the Edinburgh club. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

The Sportscene panel discuss Gerald Taylor's impressive Hearts debut in the 0-0 draw with Rangers.

Watch the best of the action as both sides are denied by the woodwork in the goalless draw between Hearts and Rangers on Premiership opening day. (Available to UK users only)

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Yan Dhanda says he told his family two years ago he wanted to play for Hearts - and now the 25-year-old Englishman is living his dream.

The midfielder made his Scottish Premiership debut in Ross County's season-opening 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle after leaving Swansea City in 2022.

On Saturday, Dhanda was handed a start at the same venue, packed to near capacity this time, as Hearts drew 0-0 with Rangers.

"I remember being here almost two years ago to the day and the first game of the season," he said.

"I remember going for some food with my family and I said this is where I need to be and I was driving in today and thought this is where I want to be."

It was nearly a dream scoreline as well as Dhanda came close to a winner with a powerful strife against the crossbar.

"It took a deflection and, maybe if it hadn’t, I would have scored, but maybe next week," he said.

Dhanda is confident he can cope with the step up to a club challenging near the top of the table, playing in European competition and in front of bigger crowds than he experienced in Dingwall.

"I just want to enjoy it," he added. "Sometimes you get too caught up with the future or the past, but this is where I wanted to be and I’m loving every minute of it.

"It's a massive club with a massive fan base. They have high expectations, but I feel I’m a player who likes pressure, I like playing in big games in front of the fans and, when the pressure is on, I’m at my best. I’m going to enjoy my time here."

We asked for your views on Hearts' goalless draw with Rangers in the Premiership opener.

Here's what some of you said:

Ian: Too early to say, but we need to convert these chances or it will be a poor season. Playing well is one thing, winning games is another. I would be disappointed if we don't win away to Dundee next week. Forget about a point away from home being a good result, we've already dropped two points and we can't let others get ahead of us this early.

Sean: Good game, we were extremely unlucky not to walk away with three points but Rangers had some good chances too. Overall a decent point at home against one half of the Old Firm.

Keith: Hearts matched Rangers and the game just needed a finisher. Very encouraged by our 90-minute performance and debut performances.

Colin: Fantastic Hearts performance, we should've won. It's been a great pre-season, the new signings and the team as a whole have responded brilliantly. If we continue/improve on that performance then we will be challenging for second.

Steve: I thought we looked positive and played with confidence. Yan Dhanda and particularly Gerald Taylor looked excellent. But Jorge Grant and Cammy Devlin are not good enough for the team to progress. Rangers look like a team in transition, they wasted some good chances but their defence was porous. We should have finished them off when we had the chances.

Chris: After a very poor pre-season that was possibly one of the most exciting Hearts displays in a long time. We were unlucky not to score and there were so many pass marks it feels like two points dropped. Taylor was a league above anyone on that pitch, what a find.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith suggests his side were rightly denied a penalty in Saturday's goalless Scottish Premiership season opener with Rangers.

A cross from Yan Dhanda, the midfielder signed from Ross County, struck the elbow of Rangers' summer signing, former Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron, inside the penalty box.

There were loud cries from the Tynecastle stands as the home support urged a VAR review to hand their side a spot kick, but referee Nick Walsh was not called to the monitor.

"I don't think it's a penalty, if I'm honest," Naismith said.

He pointed out that "last season, there was a big debate" about the hand ball rule and that new head of referees Willie Collum had sought to tweak the guidelines for this campaign.

"Willie and the referees and the league have done a lot to clear things up and have a conscious effort to stop you guys asking that question to write about it," he added.

"People will say it's unnatural. But, if you've played the game, there isn't much he can do, so I don't think it's a penalty."

Hearts fans, we want your thoughts on that opening day draw with Rangers.

What did you make of the team's performance? Were you impressed by the new signings? What are your hopes for the season?

Let us know here, external.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith was content with the goalless draw with Rangers in their Scottish Premiership opener.

"It was an entertaining game for being 0-0," he tells BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"The headlines will all be Rangers have dropped points. I get that, but I think a lot of that was down to us.

"We probably had the better of possession and I thought we controlled the first half. We had some good chances and we never took them.

"I thought there was a lot to like for us, there was a lot to like about our performance.

"I thought the new players who started did well, the guys off the bench did the same.

"I'm slightly disappointed we didn't get the goal we deserved, but there was a lot to like about us.

"Everybody is still getting up to speed. Everybody worked hard and when the schedule changes for us we're going to need everybody.

"It was a good opener, we would have liked more but we'll be content with that."

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Clive Lindsay, BBC Scotland Sport

Hearts were quick off the mark in the summer transfer market and head coach Steven Naismith added yet another new signing, midfielder Malachi Boateng from Crystal Palace, only hours before kick-off.

They were fastest out of the blocks against Rangers and, although the visitors improved after the break and had chances to win the game themselves, it was the hosts whose strength from the bench ensured they also finished the game the stronger.

In debutant Gerald Taylor, they had the most impressive performer on the day and the Costa Rica right-back gave Oscar Cortes a tough time before the Lens winger's second spell on loan began with him going off injured and frustrated.

James Penrice and Yan Dhanda also threatened on their debuts and, although Hearts were denied an opening-day victory for the first time in four years, they did enough to give their fans plenty of to be optimistic about for the rest of the season.

Read Hearts 0-0 Rangers match report in full here.

There are three debuts in the Hearts team for the opening game of the new season as full-backs Gerald Taylor and James Penrice, plus midfielder Yan Dhana, all start.

Fellow new recruits Daniel Oyegoke, Blair Spittal and Malachi Boateng are on the bench, with the latter's signing only announced this morning.

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