Heart of Midlothian

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

The primary objective in a knockout match is to ensure you are victorious when the final blows are traded. After those 120 minutes in Paisley, it felt like everyone watching had been in a boxing ring for 12 rounds.

It wasn't much of a game for the purist but was nonetheless very much pulsating. Jambos' heart rates were racing in the first half and, in truth, we were lucky not to be a couple of goals behind to St Mirren.

WhatsApp group chats of Hearts supporters were scathing of Craig Gordon, with many bewildered at his decision to palm a shot into a busy six-yard box and to the feet of striker Mikael Mandron.

It's funny how football works as two hours later Gordon went from sinner to our very own maroon saint, with his two saves in the penalty shootout ultimately proving decisive.

We can be satisfied with how we played from the second half onwards and the promising thing is our many substitutes - an astonishing seven - each made a positive contribution. Special mention to Calem Nieuwenhof, who scored with his first touch after 11 months out injured.

We've been rewarded with a home time in the quarter-final versus Dundee, who I'm sure will be a much more formidable threat than they were in our recent 6-0 win.

Before all that, there's league business to concentrate on and we have Rangers up next at Tynecastle on Sunday.

We have not defeated them in the past eight meetings, conceding 19 goals in the process. But Rangers now are at a low ebb, with their supporters turning on their players and beleaguered manager, and their away record is nothing to be feared.

Sunday's match is going to be a cracker and I hope the positivity of 2025 around Hearts continues and we're able to add another scalp and keep momentum as we try to break back into the top six.

We asked for your views on Hearts' win on penalties against St Mirren to secure a Scottish Cup quarter-final at home to Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Chris: A terrific win but goodness we make it hard for ourselves. The line-up played into St Mirren's hands. Horrible pitch and hoofball almost won it for them. Subs made a difference though and well done to those who turned it around. Great character and determination, and a special hats off to Craig Gordon for his saves in the shootout. Home tie at last.

Jim: Very lucky to make the quarter-final draw. Overall we looked very sluggish, second in almost every challenge and second best for a loose ball. The back four looked like they hadn't played together often and did not compete well with St Mirren's very lively and direct approach in the forward areas. We need a bit more time for new recruits to fit in.

Derek: What a cup tie - admittedly, not one for the history books score-wise, but neither set of fans can say their club did badly. Gordon saved our skin long before the heroics in the penalties, and James Penrice is too good for Scotland. Some things to work on defensively, but we're through, and I can't complain. Roll on the next round!

Paul: St Mirren are a huge team. Full of NFL-type players. The route one football was working for them and they should have been further ahead. The pitch was a glue pot and Hearts need to learn that their tippy-tappy football cannot be played on a pitch like that. They were lucky to get through.

Chris: That was a tough watch. St Mirren were a danger constantly and we were all over the place in every position in the first half. We improved in the second but the pitch made it near impossible to play good football. Fortunate to get to extra time, and penalties are a lotto, thankfully we have Gordon in goal! Delighted for the team!

Anon: It's all about winning, especially if you're not playing well.

Image source, SNS

Hearts will host Dundee in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Neil Critchley's beat St Mirren 4-2 on penalties in the fifth round to earn themselves a place in the quarters.

Meanwhile, Tony Docherty's men beat Airdrieonians 4-0 in the fifth round to book their place in the quarters.

The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 8 March.

Craig Gordon was the Hearts hero, saving twice in a Scottish Cup penalty shootout win over St Mirren in Paisley.

Mikael Mandron gave the hosts a deserved lead during a fierce spell of first-half pressure, poking in from close range as Gordon parried a shot from Mark O'Hara.

Hearts forced extra time when late substitute Calem Nieuwenhof struck with his first touch.

What did you make of the match? Give us your thoughts here., external

Image source, SNS

James Penrice: "Me and Gerry [Taylor] actually switched penalties before the end. It's a brilliant feeling when it hits the net.

"It was a difficult game. We tried as much as possible to get the ball on the ground, but they made it really hard. The lads were brilliant.

"I can't see why we can't go as far as possible.

"Earlier in the season, we wouldn't have come back in that game. We're putting a wee run together and hopefully it continues."

Craig Gordon: "Not really [nervous], I don't think there's much pressure on the goalkeepers. I wanted to make a few saves and give the guys that were stepping up some confidence.

"Really good to get the first two which takes a little bit of the pressure off my teammates coming up to hit the next penalties, so great to get those saves and get us through to the next round.

"It's nice to get a home one, it's been a while since we've had a home dra win the cup.

"It's another top-flight club so it's not easy."

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "Happy to have a home draw, nice to be at home and happy to be in the quarter-finals.

"The game's a few weeks away so who knows what form they'll be in or we'll be in, we've got plenty of league games in between so we'll approach that game when we get to it.

"Not really [happy with first-half performance], you know you're going to have to do the basics really well here, you have to compete with and without the ball and I didn't think we did that well enough.

"We grew into the game a little bit but didn't have the control over it that we'd have wanted.

"We had to fight and scrap and it's taken a big effort to get through tonight."

Image source, SNS

Craig Gordon. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

The 42-year-old was at fault for St Mirren's goal but made a few big saves, notably from Declan John, to keep the scores level and ensure the game went the distance.

It was in the shoot-out that he really thrived though, saving the first two penalties to put Hearts in the driving seat.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

James Penrice has been the standout performer for Hearts in what has been, until recent weeks, a turbulent campaign for the Tynecastle club.

The 26-year-old defender made the move to Edinburgh in the summer after the expiration of his contract with Livingston and made his competitive debut in the opening game of the season against Rangers which they drew 0-0.

Penrice says he became aware of Hearts interest in early January last year when they met Livingston in the Premiership.

"I hit a good bit of form just before January and I knew I was going to leave but Livingston had offered me another deal," Penrice said.

"I had to say to David [Martindale] I'm not going to sign it, which he wasn't too pleased with, but he quickly understood.

"Then we played Hearts on 2 January. As I'm walking around the pitch, Naisy [Steven Naismith] pulled me aside and basically said that he'll be speaking to me soon. Then after the game there, Clare [Cowan] from the club came up to me and asked what was going on with me and if I'd signed a pre-contract anywhere.

"At that point I wasn't really thinking and then they got in touch with my agents. There was talks at other clubs, my agent was talking to a few, but as soon as Hearts was in the pipeline, it was the only decision for me."

Penrice was brought up in Livingston and was a pupil at Meldrum Primary but all he wanted to concentrate on was his football.

"My primary school and high school were kind of taken over by what I was doing in my football career," Penrice added.

"At that time, your club wouldn't really let you play with your school, so it was never a big thing for me.

"It was almost a relief when I actually left a couple of clubs and I managed to get to play for the school. My school was the usual black ash pitch. I broke my collarbone on it playing football at lunch.

"It was just a really, really good school to be at and it only helped my love for football really. It was kind of just my wait until the bell goes for either break or lunch and then eat as quick as you can and then run outside.

"It was a real bad day when it used to rain and we weren't allowed outside. It was like all the kids just sitting in the window looking at the football pitch.

"They let us on as much as possible. As I say, I've got probably a couple of cuts on my body from that time, even that early in my life"

The next step for Penrice is the national team.

The defender has never before featured at international level at any age group but admits it's one of his burning ambitions in the game.

"I think I got maybe in one provisional squad when I was at Thistle but that was the closest I got," he said.

"It's definitely a dream of mine but I'm under no illusion that the left-back slot at Scotland is a tough gig.

"My main focus is to get in and help Hearts. If that was to come in the future, that'd be brilliant.

"It's anybody's dream to play for their country. So I'd be thrilled if it happened but I'm not under no illusion that the squad's incredible right now."

Image source, SNS

Calem Nieuwenhof "feels like a new signing" as he prepares to make his long-awaited return from injury for Hearts.

The Australian has been sidelined since March 2024 when he suffered a hamstring injury but made the bench in last weekend's win at Dundee and hopes to feature in Monday night's Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren.

"It's been tough because, obviously, as a footballer, I want to play football," the midfielder said.

"I love the game, I love competing and, to go such a long time without that, it's been tough. The support from my team-mates and the staff here has been incredible. I couldn't thank them enough.

"It was really frustrating for me to be having such small setbacks.

"Now I've been feeling good and just so happy to be back on the pitch again and hopefully, being able to play again very soon.

"As a footballer, when you're injured, you don't really have any choice other than to sort of knuckle down and just do all you can do to get back.

"That's what I'm really focusing on and now I'm in a good place where I feel good in my body, I'm not taking it for granted and I know that now I'm fit. I need to stay fit."

Nieuwenhof hasn't played for Neil Critchley, who joined the club in October, and craves the chance to impress.

"I do feel like a bit of a new signing coming in at the moment, which is funny because I've been her a year and a half now," he said.

"I just can't wait to get back on the pitch in front of the fans again."

Image source, SNS

Former league-winning Hearts goalkeeper and Hall of Fame member Gordon Marshall has died at the age of 85.

The shot-stopper made his debut aged 17 in 1956 and went on to win two league titles and three League Cups during a seven-year spell with the club.

Moves to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest followed before Gordon joined Hibernian in 1969, becoming one of a select pack of players to play for both Edinburgh clubs.

He also had stints at Celtic and Aberdeen before seeing out his career at Arbroath.

His son, Gordon, went on to have a successful goalkeeping career, too.

Image source, SNS

Neil Critchley says Hearts' transfer strategy "makes the decision-making process a lot easier" as he declared himself delighted with the squad's January revamp.

Hearts, working in conjunction with Jamestown Analytics, added five new players - four on permanent deals and Union St-Gilloise striker Elton Kabangu on loan - while five players moved on, including Australia defender Kye Rowles.

Kabangu, with five goals in three starts, and defender Jamie McCart have already impressed and head coach Critchley said: "They brought a freshness to the group, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

"Obviously we've not seen really Michael [Steinwender] and Sander [Kartum] too much and hopefully they'll start to be a bit more evident further down the line.

"But Jamie's been magnificent at the back since Kye has left the building and Elton's come and had a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

"They've been a massive help and it just goes to show that recruitment and getting the right players in is a huge part of developing your squad. I've been delighted with the work we've done."

Among the departures were late moves for two players who only arrived last summer, Daniel Oyegoke and Malachi Boateng.

"I just think sometimes you're not prepared for what's going to come your way and what the player wants to do as well. You have to take that into account," added Critchley.

"We had offers that we thought were acceptable for the club and the players also expressed an interest in wanting those moves to happen.

"But if you look at our work right across January and the players that have left and the players that have come in, you always want to try and end the window as stronger than when you started it.

"I think we've done that and we've got a strategy of how we want to move forward. When you have that, it makes the decision-making process a lot easier."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before Hearts visit St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on Monday - live on BBC Scotland.

Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:

• Critchley is delighted with the first manger of the month award of his career, adding: "It is recognition of all the work that's been going on."

• With Hearts unbeaten in seven, he is determined to keep the momentum - "we enough experience to make sure we don't take the foot off the pedal" - but cautions there is a "long way" to go in getting the team and squad to where he wants.

• Critchley is pleased with the club's business in the transfer window - Hearts added five players and moved five on - and hailed the early impact of "magnificent" Jamie McCart and Elton Kabangu for bringing a "freshness" on and off the pitch.

• On deadline-day arrival Harry Milne: "He can play left-back or left centre-back. If we decide at any point to play in a three, he can play left of a three. I really like his journey."

• On the January exit of summer signings Daniel Oyegoke and Malachi Boateng: "We had offers that we thought were acceptable for the club and the players also expressed an interest in wanting those moves to happen."

• Critchley is braced for a "tough game" against St Mirren and says "form goes out the window" in cup ties.

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has been named Scottish Premiership manager of the month following his side's impressive climb up the table.

Critchley's men went unbeaten in January, with wins over Motherwell and Dundee United followed by a draw at Aberdeen, victory over Kilmarnock and a 6-0 trouncing of Dundee at Dens Park.

The Jambos were 11th at the start of the month but now sit seventh, just one point off sixth-place Motherwell.

"I'd like to dedicate this award to all of the staff, not just at Oriam but at Tynecastle too, and the players who have performed very well in the month of January," said Critchley.

We asked for your thoughts on Hearts' business in the January transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

Ian: Would have liked to see Hearts sign an out-and-out winger. Only time will tell if the new players are the real deal or a flash in the pan. It was an unexpected but welcome win against Dundee, but let's not get carried away just yet. I certainly won't be eating humble pie about Neil Critchley just yet. One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Neil: Critchley has undoubtedly proved me and the other doubters wrong. Jamestown Analytics are doing what we were promised with the signings of Elton Kabangu and the others they have identified.

David: The ins and outs in the transfer window look to be very positive. It's just a pity we couldn't add another speedy wide player. Hopefully our recent improved form and confidence will continue. The downside is Jorge Grant, Yutaro Oda and Barrie McKay have not moved elsewhere.

Chris: Certainly exiting the window stronger than when we entered. Disappointed to see McKay, Grant etc hanging around costing us money rather than wanting to play football. The only black mark is failing to secure Danny Armstrong from Killie as what we have on the left isn't what we have on the right. We are weak at right-back also. Overall solid 8/10 window.

Tom: The signings have all been sensible rather than spectacular. Although the players who have come in have the potential to improve under, what appears to be, a very good coaching team. A buy option for Kabangu could turn out to be a masterstroke, if his form continues and if we can afford him.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Ask a Hearts fan what their lasting memory of Saulius Mikoliunas is and they'll mention his wing play, his passion, and most likely an incident against Rangers.

In the final moments of a fiercely contested match at Tynecastle in March 2005, the away side were awarded a 90th-minute penalty just moments after Hearts had scored an equaliser.

Miko, as he was affectionately known, remonstrated with linesman Andy Davis and was sent off for clashing with him before Fernando Ricksen's spot-kick consigned Hearts to a 2-1 defeat.

The Lithuanian - who had only joined Hearts a couple of months earlier - was shown a second red for swearing at referee Hugh Dallas and eventually ended up with an eight-match ban.

"Some players from Rangers, they just jump on [Hearts striker] Lee Miller's back, so it's almost a foul against, or, for us," Miko tells the new BBC podcast Romanov: Czar of Hearts.

"I thought it was a goal kick, I went to take my position and then I saw something happening on the linesman, Andy Davis, and then I saw the referee talking to him.

"And then something, I don't know, I lost my head. I just wanted to come to him and argue. You know, I was thinking maybe I can change something."

This incident led to Vladimir Romanov's first clash with the governing bodies of Scottish football.

"Obviously after the game, everybody was against him," recalls former midfielder Paul Hartley.

"The Scottish media, the referees, they're all corrupt and all that stuff [Romanov thought] and then that's why he hated the players talking to the media."

Romanov wanted answers, and his PR man Charlie Mann witnessed his post-match rant in person.

"They say, right, we need to do something about this. We need to question the SFA. This is horrendous, this is terrible. This goes on all the time. We need to do something about that."

However, the Hearts owner wasn't fazed by the punishment that came his way, as Martin Geissler outlines on the podcast.

"Romanov's outburst brought him a charge of bringing the game into disrepute and a fine of £5000.

"But if you're a man with your own bank back in Lithuania - this is the kind of money you can lose down the back of the sofa."

Romanov: Czar of Hearts episodes 1-3, available now on BBC Sounds.

With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about Hearts' January business?

Defender Harry Milne arrived from Partick Thistle on deadline day, taking Hearts' January haul to five.

Milne joins fellow permanent signings Sander Kartum, Michael Steinwender and Jamie McCart, while new loan recruit Elton Kabangu has already made a big impression.

Malachi Boateng was a deadline-day departure and Daniel Oyegoke, Kye Rowles and Liam Boyce have also left, along with Andres Salazar, whose loan was ended. Macaulay Tait, having had a taste of first-team action, has gone out on loan.

So, are Hearts well equipped for the remainder of the domestic campaign on two fronts? Or did they need strengthening elsewhere?

Have your say on Hearts' transfer business., external

Image source, SNS

What earns someone the tag of 'signing of the window'?

A player who immediately improves the squad? A player who does something others in the squad aren't? A player who's an instant hit with fans?

Well, Elton Kabangu ticks all those boxes.

The big Belgian striker has settled seamlessly into the Hearts team with five goals in three games.

Scoring was a problem area for Neil Critchley's side, with captain Lawrence Shankland struggling to hit his dizzying heights of last term.

And while on-loan Union Saint-Gilloise striker Kabangu has eased that burden, he has also arguably helped his own game and scoring rate.

"I think Elton Kabangu is possibly the signing of this window in Scottish football," Mark Atkinson, sports editor of The Scotsman, said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"A really good player who could transform Hearts' fortunes this season."

He has already played a big part in that, with the resurgent Tynecastle side now eyeing at least a top-six place.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds