Heart of Midlothian

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Hearts will still be smarting from the Edinburgh derby that leaves Neil Critchley's side four places behind city rivals Hibernian in seventh spot in the Premiership when they host top-flight rivals Dundee in Friday's first Scottish Cup quarter-final.

However, the Englishman will be reminding his players that Sunday was only their second defeat in 12 outings during a generally upward curve of results and performances.

Included in that run was a 6-0 hammering of Friday's visitors at Dens Park at the start of February and they have also beaten Dundee in their latest three visits to Tynecastle since a 2-1 loss in February 2022.

On this occasion, Tony Docherty's side also arrive having suffered three straight away defeats and therefore as underdogs.

However, while their 1-1 draw at home to St Johnstone on Saturday meant they failed to increase the three-point gap between themselves and the bottom side, it at least ended a run of three consecutive losses overall.

• This is the first Scottish Cup meeting between the sides since Hearts won 1-0 at Dens Park in a March 2001 fourth-round replay.

• Slovakia midfielder Robert Tomaschek was the match winner that day after Argentine striker Juan Sara's opener for Dundee at Tynecastle had been cancelled out by winger Juanjo's late reply.

• Hearts lost to Rangers in the semi-finals last season.

• Dundee, who lost to Rangers the last time they reached the quarters in 2022, are looking to reach the last four for the first time since they lost to Gretna in 2006.

• Dundee have not lifted the cup since 1910, while Hearts won it for the eighth time in 2012.

What to look out for on Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend.

We asked you to tell us the one thing nobody is talking about at Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: The current league table reflects how far the rest of the teams are from Celtic! Rangers are having their worst run for decades and the gap from them to the rest is still massive. That in itself highlights just how far Hearts and other hopefuls find ourselves. European qualifications are now limited.

Steve: How on earth does Andrew McKinlay still get involved in appointing managers? His track record is abysmal. This time he'll blame analytics. Time to go as he has no understanding of the game and what it takes. Nice to get a manager with a proven track record, not an ex-player or a failed coach.

Alexander: Despite signing Yan Danda, Blair Spittal and Sander Kartum we still lack a player like Stevie Fulton who can cut an opposition defence to pieces with a single pass. This lack of quality is hampering us. Jorge Grant is not the answer and needs to go. We need quality in midfield or we will not progress next season.

Anon: Elton Kabangu had seven goals in seven games from centre forward, but is being put out wide to accommodate Lawrence Shankland. Why is no one asking why Shankland hasn't been benched and the armband passed back to Craig Gordon? We were much better without him, and this change seems based off one assist v Dundee which we've not repeated.

Kevo: The transition period from possession-based football to a more cutting approach is not easy this time of year. A third game in a week has caught us out while players acclimate to the helter-skelter nature of Scottish football. A good summer will see us return to Natural Order, no worries.

Chris: Most overlooked thing for me is our pitch. We paid a lot of money for it but when you look around other playing surfaces in Scotland I would say we have one of the best in the country. It's a pity 80% of teams who visit refuse to play football on it and are happy with a point.

Steve: The lack of pace in our midfield has been evident for years. Shankland should have been stripped of the captaincy ages ago, he's frustrated and petulant and too slow to play so deep. Bring back Calum Patterson as club captain to marshall the defence!

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Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin remains sidelined because of concussion, while Aidan Denholm, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (all hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.

Dundee midfielder Scott Fraser is back in training after a groin injury but is unlikely to feature. They remain without Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee), Clark Robertson (hamstring) and Billy Koumetio (ankle).

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Manager Neil Critchley has dismissed the suggestion his Hearts side have failed in the big games this season.

Sunday's derby defeat to Hibernian extended the Jambos' winless run against their capital rivals to four matches, three of which Critchley presided over.

Since taking charge in October the Englishman has steered Hearts from bottom spot to seventh, but has failed to record a win against Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen as well as Hibs.

Critchley, though, insists his team have delivered big results.

As Hearts prepare to host Dundee in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Friday night, Critchley said: "They're all big games when you play for Hearts.

"Every game is a big game and if you look at the situation when I came in, I think we had two points after 11 games. Every game from that moment was a big game and we've won some games, regardless of the opposition.

"We're under pressure to perform at this football club and there's an expectation going into every game. Some games are more important than others and if you look at some of those games, we've performed well.

"But sometimes the result goes against you. You don't get everything that you always deserve.

"We didn't deserve, with our second-half performance last week, to win the game. It still took a brilliant strike to separate the two sides and there was nothing in the game when you analyse it.

"We were better first half, they were better second half, but we lost. That's the reality of the game and the reality of football. But that won't derail my focus and my belief in this group of players."

Critchley is seeking a strong response from his players after the derby defeat as they look to secure a semi-final spot.

"When you're trying to build something that's long-term and sustainable, you're going to have bumps on the road on the way. Progress is never linear," he said.

"I think we've definitely shown progress and until the second half of last week, we've been playing quite well, in good form, winning games and we have to make sure that we now show the right response tomorrow night."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before Friday night's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee at Tynecastle.

Here are the key lines from the Hearts manager:

• Yan Dhanda is fit and available to play. Cammy Devlin has resumed light training but the match comes too soon for him. Frankie Kent, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley and Aidan Denholm remain unavailable.

• "Emotions were raw" after the derby defeat to Hibs but Critchley has urged his side to move on quickly for an important game against Dundee.

• On criticism that Hearts have underperformed in big games under Critchley, he says: "Every game is a big game and if you look at the situation when I came in, I think we had two points after 11 games. Every game from that moment was a big game and we've won some games, regardless of the opposition."

• Critchley says there is still plenty for Hearts to play for this season: "We want to get to Hampden and go as far as we can in this competition. So, our first aim is, can we win on Friday night? Can we get to the semi-final? And then after that, we've got a few games where we want to keep winning games and make sure we're in the top six come the split."

• He expects Dundee will enjoy "a release from the league" given their recent Premiership struggles and expects a tough game.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The loss against city rivals Hibernian at the weekend was difficult for everyone of a maroon persuasion to take.

Management, players and supporters travelled to Easter Road with great optimism. And rightly so after a vast improvement in performances and results in recent weeks.

But the second 45 minutes in particular were alarming.

The way the team struggled to cope with the dynamism of Nicky Cadden down Hibernian's left flank highlighted again the need for a solid right-back this summer.

With four matches left before the split and Hearts sitting seventh it may take three wins from those matches to secure a top-half finish and keep European hopes alive for next season.

There is of course a pathway to Europe through the Scottish Cup.

And with Dundee currently on a poor run of form Hearts will certainly be favourites to come out on top this Friday when the sides meet in the quarter-finals at Tynecastle.

Tony Docherty's side will not need reminding what happened last month when Hearts rattled six past them without reply.

They will be out to prove they are much better than that showing, but if Hearts can get back to the form they showed before the derby there is no reason why Neil Critchley's side should not be the first team to earn their place in the semi-finals at Hampden next month.

Hearts' momentum was stalled by the derby defeat at Easter Road last weekend that prompted a backlash from fans.

Still, after an abysmal start to the season, the Jambos are still on for a top-six finish and the link-up with Jamestown Analytics has brought a data-led focus on recruitment.

You know your club best, so tell us the one thing - good or bad - nobody us talking about at Tynecastle.

Let us know., external

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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One of the most enduring images of Vladimir Romanov's time at Hearts is a grainy video, captured on a pre-smartphone mobile by one of the squad on a pre-season tour of Austria in 2007.

After the previous season petered out into a damp squib, Romanov still fancied himself as a motivational coach and he was there on the tour of Austria, determined to rouse the players for upcoming challenges.

"Vlad was chatting away to us about the season ahead, and just sort of like some sort of inspirational speech," Michael Stewart tells Romanov: Czar of Hearts.

"And he was talking about how growing up, he was small, he was a boxer, he was a fighter. You could tell folks were switching off."

But one person who wasn't switching off was Roman Bednar.

"At that point, I was young and cheeky all the time, and I said, 'You must be joking, you did boxing?'" the former Czech forward recalls.

With Stewart adding that this certainly got the attention of the squad: "And you could just see Vlad was sort of like taking it in as if, 'Did he just say that?' Aye, he did!"

Vlad didn't take kindly to the comments. Later, as the rest of the squad looked on, he ambushed Bednar in a car park with the appropriate equipment in hand.

"He holds up this set of boxing gloves, and he's like, 'Yeah, me and you, right, put them on, we're going to have this boxing fight,'" recalls Stewart who had a front-row seat to it all.

"Vlad's going, no, no, no, let's box."

For the rest of the team looking on, this would be a popcorn moment to remember.

Saulius Mikoliunas recalls Vlad going for a knockout blow: "Then Mr Romanov, he went for attack and he made some movements and he punched into the face with was some big sound."

Bednar, Vlad's sparring partner, assures listeners: "He didn't hurt me at all but yeah, he hit me well."

Maybe there are other examples of a 5ft 7in club chairman landing a punch on a 6ft 4in striker, but we haven't been able to find any.

Episodes 1-7 of Romanov: Czar of Heart are available now on BBC Sounds, with further episodes released weekly on Saturdays.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Third place now looks beyond Hearts after a second successive Edinburgh derby defeat.

To be fair, it's important not to get carried away and rewrite the past as when Neil Critchley took over, we were relegation fodder. He has improved the team and only three sides have picked up more points than us with Critchley at the helm.

He's been able to get victories home and away against sides we are expected to beat, which is easier said than done with a lot of teams content to sit in a low block.

But comparatively to Steven Naismith's Hearts, it feels like Critchley has made us a poorer side in the 'big games' against the Old Firm, Hibs and Aberdeen. Whereas the record shows Naismith was able to pick up victories – although came up short against the others, unlike Critchley.

Our current head coach has picked up just three points from 24 in those big games and then add in the Petrocub result, which doesn't do him any favours.

His in-game management is also questionable at times and there were plenty of examples at Easter Road. After Hearts dominated the first half, Critchley tweaked his gameplan to 'take control' of a midfield battle our side was clearly winning, which then left Gerard Taylor exposed to Hibs' best attacking weapon Nicky Cadden and his deliveries.

Every Jambo in the Dunbar end was screaming out the obvious that we needed to change something but I don't know what Critchley was thinking.

But we lost because Hibs players simply wanted to win the game more and that's absolutely damning of everyone involved at Hearts.

Sander Kartum and captain Shankland showed a lack of urgency in the lead-up to Hibs' winner and we never threatened Jordan Smith's goal once in the second half.

I don't agree with outlandish and reactionary shouts of getting rid of Critchley. He didn't assemble the majority of this side and the squad needs overhauled.

Friday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee is now our biggest game of the season to date. Cup glory would absolutely change the season narrative into a success, so can the players bounce back and get us to Hampden?

Jorge Grant admits Hearts "weren't anywhere near it" in the second half of Sunday's 2-1 derby loss to Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Head coach Neil Critchley plays down suggestions Hearts are in a debilitating Edinburgh derby syndrome. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views following Hearts' Edinburgh derby defeat to Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Alexander: We fell out of the game second half for some reason. At half-time I could only see one winner and that was us. Third is gone now, we need to concentrate on top six so we can get another derby. Can't go a whole season without beating Hibs once.

David: Only one team wanted to win and that was not Hearts. That second half performance was embarrassing, they should all hang there heads in shame -absolutely no fight at all. Can't take anything away from the winning goal, at least they went for it.

Max: I thought Hearts looked really tired in the second half and despite bringing the team together, I'm afraid Neil Critchley is not the long-term answer. There is utterly no point in having possession of a football if you cannot make quick incisive attacks. I hope in many ways I'm wrong, but history will show that I'm right.

Steve: Touch and go whether we reach top six. Recent results show how poor the loss to Rangers was. Awful display in the second half against Hibs. I'm still to be convinced by Critchley.

Didn't buy in to this eat humble pie nonsense from some Hearts fans after one decent display at Dundee. Recent excuses of poor surfaces and physical opponents don't wash with me.

Peter: Two sloppy moments from Taylor and Shankland cost us dearly. Cannot excuse that in professional football, trying hard is the least we should expect, for 100% of the game.

To fall out of the match as we did, second half, has not been our recent modus operandi, so why this time? Hibs were the better side because they wanted it more, unfortunately.

Steve: No surprise, we've not played well for many weeks despite the results. Most of the Hibs attack came from our right-hand side, yet the manager made no changes to our right-back.

Neither side created much but couldn't string two passes together. Lots of aimless crosses. We will struggle to get into the top six, too much deadwood at Tynecastle.

Finn: A completely toothless attack. Taylor at fault for the first goal. Shankland's work rate was truly awful. We really have a mountain to climb for a European place. A real eye-opener on how we really need to improve.

Stefan: Hopeless second half performance. A lot of those players clearly don't know what it means to play for Hearts. Critchley needed to make changes and waited far too long again.

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• Hibernian recorded back-to-back league victories against Hearts for the first time since 2009.

• David Gray's side are now unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions, and have only suffered one defeat in 18.

• Martin Boyle has scored eight goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

• Hearts have scored in their last six games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of seven games from 21 September 2024 to 2 November 2024.

• Jorge Grant scored his second goal in the Premiership this season, after netting against Kilmarnock on 25 January.

Watch all the highlights as Hibernian edge city rivals Hearts 2-1 in the Edinburgh Derby.

Hearts fans, were you at Easter Road to watch your team's derby defeat or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts. Have your say on the game., external

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts will understandably be down after losing their second derby match of the season, but when head coach Neil Critchley reflects on the performance, he will find some positives.

The way they responded to going a goal behind showed excellent character and Grant's technique for the equaliser was superb.

Elton Kabangu again looked a threat with his pace and movement up front and was only denied an eighth Hearts goal by the offside flag.

However, the way their levels dropped in the second half was alarming.

Hearts had just three shots, none of them on target, and never truly threatened Jordan Smith in the Hibs goal. The calm build-up play and intricate passing that was on show at times in the opening 45 was nowhere to be seen.

Shankland was beaten to the ball for Iredale's winner and there will also be questions asked about Boyle's opening goal.

One long ball unpicked the entire defence. Taylor was eased off the ball far too easily and Gordon was rooted to his line. The ball was inside the Scotland goalkeeper's six-yard box by the time Boyle came to shoot - and yet he stayed put.

Yes, Taylor must be stronger, but Gordon must also be more decisive.

Still, Hearts have lost only two of their past 12 matches in all competitions and remain in the mix for a top-six spot.

Attentions now turn to the cup and Dundee's visit to Tynecastle on Friday.

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "I thought first half we played with good control and were slightly the better team.

"Second half we were unrecognisable. Stopped doing things we were doing first half, didn't pass the ball well enough, were too passive, disjointed in our defending and we allowed too many balls into our box. In the end that's led to a great goal.

"We spoke about it at half-time about how we wanted to step up and play the second half, and we didn't. We allowed them to play the game they wanted to play and that suited them.

"That wasn't like us, it's not been like us and it's something we need to do better at.

"It's bitterly disappointing to lose a derby so we have to take the criticism. We have to respond. We're at home against Dundee in the cup and we have to show a response.

"I didn't recognise the team in the second half which is really disappointing. We didn't show a response from going 2-1 down."

This was nothing to do with the revolving door of managers, a door which kept turning despite league positions.

This was a dressing room revolution, exposed and laid bare by the most powerful among the squad, against the man at the top.

"Chaps, just to make you aware that I'm going to make a statement and we'll answer no questions," captain Steven Pressley told the assembled journalists as he walked in beside midfielder Paul Hartley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

As they took their seats behind a little table, busy with microphones and cables, and cameras flashing just inches from their noses, the Riccarton Three had their moment.

Episode seven of Romanov: Czar of Hearts is now available on BBC Sounds - listen and subscribe here

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There is a "different psychological feel" to this weekend's Edinburgh Derby than previous, reckons Hearts head coach Neil Critchley.

The capital's big two were the league's bottom clubs when they drew 1-1 in late October, and were both still in the bottom half after Hibs' dramatic derby win on Boxing Day.

Now the sides meet at Easter Road on Sunday with them each occupying a spot in the top six for the first time since August after Hearts climbed into the top half on Wednesday

"I think there's a different psychological feel to the game because of the different situation that both teams find themselves in," said Critchley, whose side have only lost once since that Boxing Day defeat and face a Hibs side on a remarkable 14-game unbeaten run.

"I think both teams will be taking to the pitch with a more positive feeling, that might mean it is a different type of game from both teams.

"It is exciting, I'm really looking forward to it and may the best team win."

After starting the season with a packed European and domestic schedule, Critchley is grateful for more time on the training pitch.

"Maybe having more time between games has helped us to reinforce some of the things we want to see from the players, our principles," he added.

"Your identity takes time, you need consistency in your work. For the things that you want to become habits, you've got to keep working at them and we've probably had that time.

"We've been better at both ends of the pitch.

"I think January helped with some of the players that we brought in. There's a new energy and enthusiasm from the players."

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• After their 2-1 win on Boxing Day, Hibs could win successive top-fight meetings with rivals Hearts for the first time since May 2009 under Mixu Paatelainen.

• Hearts have only lost one of their last nine away games against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D4), a 1-0 defeat in April 2023 under Robbie Neilson.

• Hibs are unbeaten in 12 league games (W8 D4), their longest run in the Scottish Premiership since May 2018 (also 12) – a streak which was ended by a defeat to Hearts (2-1).

• Hearts have won four of their past five league games (L1), including both of their past two. They last won three in a row in the Scottish Premiership in February 2024 (run of six).

• Only Celtic (17) and Aberdeen (12) have had more goals scored by substitutes (excl. own goals) in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hibs (11), who had two such goals against Dundee United last time out.

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Hibernian pair Elie Youan and Dylan Levitt are both back in contention after injury but captain Joe Newell is out.

Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin is set to remain sidelined with concussion, while defenders Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (both hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.

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Craig Gordon says "methodical" head coach Neil Critchley has shaped Hearts into a "good unit" who can continue to improve under his stewardship.

Critchley was appointed in October when the side were two points adrift at the bottom of the top flight with just two points from their opening eight matches.

After a shaky start to the 46-year-old Englishman's tenure, the Jambos have lost just one game in 11 and are now in the top half of the table as Critchley eyes a first Edinburgh derby win in Sunday's showdown at Easter Road.

"There was probably only one way things could go, we had to start climbing the table," said goalkeeper Gordon.

"He's really come in and brought everyone together. He's tried a few different things. He's tried different formations, different people to find out what worked.

"He's slowly built us into a good unit that's winning matches. You've got to give him great credit for the way he's gone about it. It's been a work in progress, I'm sure he would admit that.

"Throughout the season he's been trying to add things in as we go. I can see us continuing to improve under him and continuing to push up towards the top end of the league and going into next season with high hopes for that one as well.

"Tactically and on the pitch he's very methodical about what he wants everybody to do. He's just building on that as every training session goes by. He's trying to give the players more and more information."

Should Hearts continue their stellar form, a fourth successive season in Europe could well be attainable.

Gordon added: "It's games like this between now and the end of the season that are going to determine where we finish.

"It's a good turnaround. We need to keep winning games to make sure we complete it. It would be an absolutely incredible achievement to have come from where we have to finish the season with any kind of European football."