Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Oriam

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley sat down with BBC Scotland before Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, live on the BBC.

Here are some of the key questions and crucial answers:

How have the last couple of days been for you after the disappointment at Motherwell?

"Yeah, tough. You can't lie. After not winning the game and setting out what we wanted to do. You play that game over in your head and you watch it back and you go through all the possible scenarios of what you could have done and should have done better and we have to accept responsibility for that as a group, myself included.

"But then you have to quickly move on. That's this job, that's this industry. You have to overcome disappointment. It was a disappointment, but we have to keep looking forward and moving forward because we've got a big game coming up this weekend."

The fans are angry about what happened at the weekend. Who should that anger and frustration be pointed at?

"I think it's always a collective. I'd rather them point it at me than the players, if I'm honest. After any game where you don't get the result that you want then there's going to be obvious anger, disappointment and frustration.

"That's totally understandable and I'd never criticise the supporters for that because we all feel that.

"But again, I have to keep a sense of perspective on things. I have to be balanced and rational in my thinking and believe in what we're doing and I've seen signs of progress.

"I've seen a team that's honest and hard-working and is willing to fight on the pitch. Sometimes it's just fine margins. That little bit of a chance going your way or a bit of luck that can change the course of a game or your future.

"We've been very nearly there in the last couple of games and we didn't, and that's on us. With that comes anger, frustration and the supporters have a right and an opinion to say what they feel."

Fans I've spoken to are struggling to understand as to why in so many big games -Petrocub, Hibs, Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell - they can't get over the line. Why is that and how can you get the team over the line? Are the players here to do that?

"I think that's a fair question. What I would say again to that is, it's your definition of a big game and I understand some games are bigger than others and more important, but when we first came in, I'd say every game was important.

"We were playing catch-up and we had to win games straight away and we've done that. So, I think in lots of those games as well we've deserved more and that's an easy thing to say. But I think there's evidence to suggest that would be the case and in lots of those games we've missed big chances.

"We've created chances and missed and that's been a recurring theme. That's been an issue because goals change games and in lots of those games we've been chasing rather than leading the game. I think that's psychologically, that's weighed on us a little bit and that's something for us to work on and a problem for us to solve in the future."

Have you been to Hampden before?

"Only a couple of weeks ago. To have a look around, it was my first time.

"It was obviously empty on the day, just to get a feel for it. It's something special about the stadium. It's an iconic stadium. It was obviously no one there on the day. Quite strange. Quite therapeutic standing there with nobody there.

"But you visualise and picture what it might be like on Saturday. I know we've got an incredible support going. Hopefully we can do them proud and give them a performance and a win that they deserve."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

If you were to ask Neil Critchley his favourite James Bond film, I'd be astonished if it was anything other than Diamonds Are Forever given his fixation for that shape in midfield.

Last Saturday's performance at Motherwell was a drab affair and we got out of it what we deserved.

A point means we drop back down into the bottom half of the league and given we have been there for 30 of 33 matchdays, it always had a good chance of happening.

The diamond formation favoured by Critchley has not worked for us and has not benefitted a single player.

James Penrice and Blair Spittal have gone off the boil and it has forced Elton Kabangu wide and away from goal.

We had to pick up one win from either Dundee United at home or Motherwell away, not teams Hearts should be fearing, but it was a meek showing in both games, devoid of attacking intent.

I do not want to get into this never-ending cycle of changing the head coach, but the fanbase's opinion seems to be set on this. If Critchley manages to beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday, then he prolongs his stay until the final. Even then, fans would be fearing the worst given his record in big games thus far.

Critchley hasn't been helped with the performances of members of his first-team squad this season, with Lawrence Shankland's rapid decline in form a mystery to many.

We have also had key players out for months at a time, including Frankie Kent, Craig Halkett, Steven Kingsley and Calem Nieuwenhof.

There's a real malaise and resignation within the Hearts support that this season is as good as done.

If there's a diamond lining up in midfield at Hampden then I imagine those in Glasgow pubs and bowling clubs will head to the national stadium with dread as we prepare to face an Aberdeen side dominant in wide areas.

We will go into the game with the expectation to be let down, which is a sad indictment of Hearts at the moment and encapsulates this season up perfectly.

• Hearts v Dundee - Saturday, 26 April 2025

• Ross County v Hearts - Saturday, 3 May 2025

• Hearts v Motherwell - Saturday, 10 May 2025

• Hearts v St Johnstone - Wednesday, 14 May 2025

• Kilmarnock v Hearts - Sunday, 18 May 2025

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Hearts legend John Robertson says this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen is a chance for Neil Critchley's side to bounce back after missing out on a top-six spot.

Their stalemate with Motherwell meant they were unable to take advantage of their position and claim a place in the table's top half.

But club hero Robertson hopes the team can set that disappointment to one side and give their fans something to celebrate at Hampden.

"It's a blow, but sometimes you've got to take a step back and take a deep breath," the former Tynecastle striker said of the side missing out on a top-six spot.

"Should Hearts have qualified for Europe knockout stages this season? Yes, they should have, but they didn't. Should they have qualified for the top six after the comeback they'd made under Critchley? Yes, they should have, but they haven't.

"So, in that respect, they've still got work to do, but this Saturday brings a completely different dynamic. It's an opportunity to get to a national cup final, and those are few and far between.

"It's a huge opportunity to make a disappointing season into a really, really good one."

Watch as former head coach Steven Naismith analyses Hearts' failure to make the top six on Sportscene.

Available in UK only

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon insists Hearts have improved under head coach Neil Critchley, but says he understands fan frustration after they missed out on a top-six Premiership spot. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Watch the pick of the action from Fir Park as Motherwell and Hearts fight out a stalemate and fail to reach the top six. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Saturday's goalless draw with Motherwell consigned Hearts to the bottom six.

Here's what some of you said:

Tom: We got what we deserved. We don't have any inspiration or creativity on the park and there does not seem to be any motivation from the management team. No fire in the bellies and strange substitutions have been the story of this campaign.

Rob: We're just treading water. Neil Critchley took us off the bottom, but not by much. Some of the personnel decision-making is baffling. Blair Spittal couldn't make a pass against United yet starts again, Lawrence Shankland is still the best player yet stays on the bench? Calem Nieuwenhof coming on to protect 0-0. We'll be lucky if we don't get sucked down into a relegation dogfight.

Eric: Bit premature for people to be calling for the manager's head given the shambles he inherited, the bottom six is exactly what we have achieved this year. I have to say though the decision to drop our captain and, to be frank, our best attacking option for most important home and away games at the business end of season is questionable.

Robert: I said a couple of months ago I was eating humble pie. First, congratulations to the Saints, they deserve it, they attacked and scored unlike Hearts. We are a bit of a laughing stock. If Hearts lose to Aberdeen next week then it's curtains for Critchley.

Ken: Dire football for months with terrible signings. The fans deserve better. The board and the manager are culpable. Critchley picked the most negative team and he can't win big or pressure games.

Richard: To be fair to the manager the team wasn't scoring goals and wasn't winning before he inherited it and he's only had one window to try to change it. It could be it'll take all our budget just to patch the squad up, plug the holes at right-back and on the wing with little left to overhaul the style properly.

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• Hearts have failed to score in their past three games in the Premiership, their last longer run of games without scoring a goal in the competition was a run of four games from 31 October 2018 to 24 November 2018.

• Motherwell have failed to score in 11 of their 33 games, only Ross County (14) and St Mirren (12) have drawn a blank more often in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Celtic on 26 December 2024.

• Hearts have failed to win in their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 10 November 2024 to 1 December 2024.

Hearts fans, what did you make of that goalless draw at Fir Park? How are you feeling about being in the bottom six? What are your thoughts on Neil Critchley continuing to lead the side?

Have your say here

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley tells BBC Scotland: "It's a hugely disappointing day, we didn't do enough to win the game.

"The first half was cagey from both teams, Motherwell were much more aggressive. We were too slow with the ball and made too many mistakes.

"We changed at half-time and played more simple football, got the ball forward quicker and created some good chances but we didn't take them. That's probably the story of not just today but a few other performances where you could point to us being wasteful in front of goal.

"It was a tactical decision [the half-time changes] it wasn't a reflection of the players' performance. I thought in the second half we were in control of the territory but we didn't do enough in and around the goal. That was last week, that's today, that's why we haven't got the points we've needed to get into the top six.

"We didn't expect them to play the way they played, they've never played in that way before. Sometimes that requires a different way and a different personnel from us.

"You can point to other moments and other games where we could have maybe picked up more points and we've left some points out on the pitch in my opinion. Under normal circumstances, a point and a clean sheet away from home isn't that bad but today it's not what we came here for."

Calum MacDonald
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park

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The absence of Lawrence Shankland was the big talking point pre-match and Hearts struggled to create much in the first half. His introduction in the second half livened up the way side.

Hearts' striking woes were laid bare when Neil Critchley was forced to send on Craig Halkett as an emergency forward with their top-six chances slipping away.

Critchley should be commended for turning Hearts' season around after a dreadful start but as it transpired just one point from their last three matches would have secured them top-six football and they really should have managed that.

Like Motherwell, their thoughts will now be on securing top flight survival.

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Motherwell defender Liam Gordon will miss the game with concussion, while defender Steve Seddon (ankle), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (broken wrist), Shane Blaney, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Jack Vale (Achilles), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and Archie Mair (hand) remain sidelined for Well.

Hearts forward James Wilson is suspended, while Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are still out.

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Neil Critchley still has his eyes on a European place despite a 1-0 home loss to Dundee United leaving the Edinburgh side eight points adrift of fifth in the table.

Heart of Midlothian will have to make sure they finish in the top half in order to pursue that ambition - and that is looking far from certain following a run of three defeats in their past four league outings.

Victory at Fir Park on Saturday wraps it up, but Motherwell have won six of their past eight home encounters against the Tynecastle side.

A draw would keep the Steelmen at bay but would open the door for St Mirren, who are at home to Ross County.

Of course, Hearts were rock bottom when Critchley replaced Steven Naismith in October, so credit is due for the team's rise.

However, there is huge pressure on the former Blackpool boss going into the weekend and there will be jitters around his big-match record.

When Hearts needed a win at home to Petrocub of Moldova in order to make Conference League progress, they failed.

In 11 games against the current top five, Critchley has found just one win.

Only maximum points will do for Motherwell, who have gathered one point from three matches after winning at Ibrox.

That could play into the visitors' hands and Critchley will be stressing the importance of the first goal since Brechin City are the only domestic opponent Hearts have beaten away from home this season after conceding the opener.

Read all the Scottish Premiership picks here

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts boss Neil Critchley said his side "understand the importance" of their split-deciding fixture with Motherwell on Saturday.

Win at Fir Park and Hearts' secure their top-six status, having come a long way from early-season relegation fears when Critchley took over.

Lose, and they're consigned to the bottom six where safety is far from guaranteed thanks to a tightly-packed league table.

"We understand the importance of the game," the head coach said. "There's plenty of points to play for. We want to be always a club that's at the top end of the table and playing the big games against the big teams at the end of the season.

"But from where we were when I took over to where we are now, we've made progress. The fact that we're fighting to the top six is credit to the players.

"But now we have that one game, it's in our hands. We know what we have to do. And if we do that, then we can look forward to some important big games at the end of the season, which is where we all want to be competing every single season."

Motherwell are also fighting for a place in the top six, having recovered from a poor run of form thanks to the appointment of Michael Wimmer.

With both sides battling for a place in the top half, Critchley thinks circumstances may lead to an open match.

"Motherwell will want to win the game but they'll also be understanding that there's consequences for losing the game as well," he said. "It's going to make for, psychologically, how the game pans out and how it's played.

"It's a different scenario. It's not like a normal, regular league game that you play every week, because of the nature of where the game is placed within the calendar.

"It's a bit different. I've never experienced it before, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's all-important trip to Motherwell. Here's a taste of what he had to say...

• The game against Motherwell is one of psychology as well as football, and Critchley wants to play to a "similar level" to the Dundee United defeat, with a "bit extra quality and intelligence in front of goal".

• He knows the consequences that come with both winning and losing games of this nature, and acknowledges it's not a "normal scenario".

• New signing Christian Borchgrevink will enhance strong competition for right-back position and has "obvious leadership qualities" as he captains Valerenga in Norway.

• Gerald Taylor will head back to parent club Deportivo Saprissa this summer and option to buy will not be taken up, after a "really unfortunate" spell with injury in Gorgie.

• There is nothing imminent with any other new signings for the summer.

• Striker James Wilson was "quite sombre and reflective" after his red card against Dundee United last weekend.

Celtic could still win a 13th Scottish top-flight title in 14 seasons this weekend, despite their shock defeat away to St Johnstone last Sunday.

Victory at home against Kilmarnock on Saturday would be sufficient to confirm the arithmetic should Rangers lose at Aberdeen the following day.

The Ibrox side are almost certain to clinch the second Champions League place, but four points from their final six matches would confirm it.

Whoever finishes third and fourth will also be in Europe, as will the division's fifth-placed side should the Scottish Cup winners be one of the Premiership's top four.

The fight for the final top-six place will go to the final game before the split, with one of Hearts, Motherwell or St Mirren claiming it.

Hearts visit Fir Park one point in front of their hosts and the Paisley side, who take on Ross County.

The two teams missing out could yet be sucked into a relegation battle.

Bottom side St Johnstone are now five adrift of Dundee and six behind Kilmarnock and Ross County. Motherwell and St Mirren are a further three points ahead.

With the teams all playing each other again post-split, there is still plenty scope for movement between now and 18 May.

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• Motherwell have won six of their past eight home league games against Hearts (L2), including a 3-1 win in August of this season.

• None of the past 12 league meetings between Motherwell and Hearts have finished level, with Hearts winning seven and losing five since a 1-1 draw in March 2020.

• Motherwell have lost seven of their past 10 games in the Scottish Premiership (W2 D1), picking up fewer points than any side in the division since the start of this run (7) on January 11

• Hearts have lost both of their last two league games without scoring; they last lost three in a row without reply in the Scottish Premiership in December 2019, a run that included a 1-0 loss at Motherwell.

• Motherwell's Ellery Balcombe has conceded more goals than any goalkeeper in the Scottish Premiership this season (53). Indeed, of goalkeepers to play 20+ times in the competition this season, his save rate of 60.5% is the lowest.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

After a season that started with so much optimism, whether Hearts finish in the top or bottom half of the Premiership will come down to their ability to beat Motherwell at Fir Park this Saturday.

There will be many pundits and supporters alike who will have views on why the club are in the position they are. Those debates and discussions are for another day, as nothing else matters other than the outcome of this weekend's fixture.

Although there will be some who have doubts about the team's ability to come out on top in big games this season, those players who take to the pitch have the opportunity this weekend to silence some of their critics.

They should be helped by the fact that Motherwell also require a win to have any chance themselves of a top-six finish.

The Fir Park side have only picked up one point from their last three games, otherwise they may well be sitting pretty in the top half of the table.

But like Hearts they know a win is necessary for them, so hopefully the fans of both sides inside Fir Park should be able to witness a game that flows from end to end with plenty of goalmouth opportunities on show.

Meanwhile, St Mirren know a win over Ross County will knock the Steelmen out of the race. It should be another pulsating, and no doubt nervous, Saturday for Hearts fans in what has been a rollercoaster of a league campaign.