Heart of Midlothian

Image source, SNS

Hearts' head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Scotland: "I'm disappointed to lose the game the way we have. We started the game well, had some good moments, looked real threatening.

"We started the second half well, but the goals we've given away are really poor to concede. An innocuous long ball that we don't deal with. The second one is fine details, we don't get the first or second contact. Far, far too easy.

"We still had plenty of time left but I felt we were anxious in our play, lost our way a little bit. That's something for me to take away."

"Up until they scored, I thought we were playing well. Two moments of poor defending has changed the game. I felt we were proactive instead of reactive all night. You learn a lot when you lose, and I've learnt a lot tonight.

"There's got to be a greater will to keep the ball out of the net when it really matters. We didn't show that on Sunday with a free-kick. We've conceded from a long throw and a long ball from the keeper tonight. It's too easy to put the ball into our goal."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock came from behind at Tynecastle to earn a Scottish Premiership win and hand new head coach Neil Critchley his first defeat as Hearts head coach.

The hosts dominated the ball and looked well worth their lead when Alan Forrest struck near the end of the first-half.

But in a five minute spell, Kilmarnock made the most of poor Hearts' defending to hit twice - first through Matty Kennedy and then through Kyle Vassell.

What did you make of that, Hearts fans? Were you impressed by some of the play, despite the result?

And where did it go wrong?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

The honeymoon period is over for Neil Critchley.

The new head coach has lost his first game in charge of Hearts, but he might scratch his head and wonder how.

They enjoyed 70% possession, had 300 more accurate passes than their hosts, and spent 30% of the game in Kilmarnock's defensive third.

But there was a hesitancy within them. Spittal would lay the ball on a plate and his teammates would delay the shot, seemingly unsure which option to take.

Sometimes the best option is just to shoot. But the man who you'd trust to take the shot, Lawrence Shankland, is in the midst of a barren spell.

He has just one goal all season - one that bounced off him against Ross County. He's getting chances that five months ago he would've buried without thinking. Now he can't buy a goal.

Image source, SNS

Blair Spittal. It's not often we mention players' on losing sides, but Spittal was instrumental in anything good Hearts did tonight. He has become the tempo dictator, their main creator, and the heartbeat of the team.

Malachi Boateng also deserves a mention. He was calm in midfield, winning the ball back and key to Hearts' impressive stats.

Unfortunately for the home side, they couldn't make the most of the chances they created.

Image source, SNS

Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Spittal, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest, Vargas, Shankland.

Substitutes: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Oyegoke, Grant, McKay, Dhanda, Wilson, Boyce.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Watson, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge.

Image source, SNS

• Hearts have lost just one of their last seven Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (W2 D4), keeping a clean sheet in three of their last four since a 2-1 defeat in April 2023.

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last nine Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts (W5 D3), although are winless in their last three (D2 L1).

• Hearts have lost just one of their last 15 home league games (W8 D6), going down 1-0 to Dundee United in September.

• Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is winless in his last eight away games against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4) since a 2-1 victory with Aberdeen in May 2017.

• Neil Critchley is looking to become the first Hearts manager to win both of his first two Scottish Premiership home games in charge of the club since Robbie Neilson in August 2015.

So after three games Neil Critchley remains unbeaten as Hearts head coach. However, on Sunday at Easter Road he was given a true sense of where the club's issues have been this season.

Hearts had by far the most possession (63%) in the derby, but the inability to break down a vulnerable Hibs team indicates a lack of creativity in the final third.

The stats show Hearts had 11 shots, with nine of those coming inside the 18-yard box, however just two of those were on target and Hibs goalkeeper Josef Bursik was only called upon to make one save.

Digging deeper into the stats, the back four for Hearts had the most touches in the team by some considerable margin. Kye Rowles (109), James Penrice (96), Frankie Kent (75) and Daniel Oyegoke (70) were the ones staring the majority of the attacks.

In midfield, Malachi Boateng led the numbers with 62 touches while Yan Dhanda had just 31 touches and only 72.7% pass accuracy in his time on the pitch.

Hearts have looked more solid defensively in recent weeks, so it does appear that area of the pitch - which was problematic at the start of the campaign - has been resolved.

But it's the final third where games are won and this is undoubtedly where Critchley and his backroom team will align their focus for tonight's game against Kilmarnock.

Image source, SNS

Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime could return after missing the last two matches through illness but Yutaro Oda, Gerald Taylor and Calem Nieuwenhof remain sidelined.

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is suspended while Stuart Findlay is out for seven to 10 days with a groin issue. Liam Polworth (calf) remains out, alongside long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage regrets not signing Nicky Devlin before the Scotland right-back, 31, joined Aberdeen from Livingston. (Record), external

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tried to sign Yan Dhanda, James Penrice and Blair Spittal before all three moved to Hearts during the summer. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley says it is "not a concern" that he hasn't had a lot of time on the training pitch with his squad since his arrival.

With Conference League fixtures and top-flight commitments to juggle, the 46-year-old admits his side are "learning on the job" as he tries to implement his methods and ideas.

After two wins in his opening two games, and securing a dramatic late point against rivals Hibs on Sunday, he is full of praise for the players so far.

“It’s not a concern but as a coach I want some time on the training pitch to improve the players and our way of playing," Critchley said.

"With the game schedule we have at the moment the players are learning on the job.

“They have done that extremely well so far, they have been extremely receptive of the information they have been given.

"Sometimes there is no better learning zone than doing it outside your comfort zone and being on the pitch."

Next up for Hearts on Wednesday night is the visit of Kilmarnock, who have only lost one of their last nine Premiership visits to Tynecastle and will be keen to bounce back from their defeat in Dingwall at the weekend.

On Derek McInnes' side, Critchley said: "If you look at some of the results this season some of the teams are evenly matched.

"There have been some really tight games. If you look at Kilmarnock's recent results they have picked up quite a few points in some very close games.

"They had a fantastic win against Rangers and we know the type of game we are going to face but we have got to concentrate on who we want to be.

"I don’t want that feeling like after the lord mayor's show."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to host Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Critchley is happy with how his side "controlled the game and [our] dominance in terms of possession" in Sunday's 1-1 Edinburgh derby draw.

• He admits Hearts didn't do enough without the ball though, and is "frustrated at the goal we conceded".

• He has had little time to work on the pitch with the players since his arrival and adds that they are "learning on the job".

• With their busy schedule continuing he has "been really enthused by the group and their energy".

• He says he feels there is very little between many of the teams in the Scottish Premiership.

• Beni Baningime is back training but the Killie game may come too soon.

• Critchley says he is well aware of what McCrae's Battalion means to the club and the significance of remembering them, with the upcoming midweek match set to serve as the club's annual remembrance fixture.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Neil Critchley can consider his first fortnight in the Hearts hotseat as mission accomplished following his unbeaten start as our new head coach.

It was imperative he built some quick momentum, especially as a lot of supporters felt underwhelmed by his appointment, but he's carried out his task so effectively you do wonder if he is the supercomputer's secret agent.

The biggest test for Double O Critchley from the three fixtures was the trip to Easter Road, but Hearts picking up a positive result versus Hibs was as predictable as James Bond saving the world and riding off into the sunset.

It's fair to say Critchley has saved us from near catastrophe and transformed the side in such a short space of time after our worst start to a season.

When we went a goal down to Hibs, it was telling that he was bold in his substitutions, including taking off our central midfield and trusting 17-year-old forward James Wilson to change our fortunes when he could have opted for experience in Liam Boyce.

Critchley found that fortune favours the brave as Wilson netted his second goal in his many games to draw us level.

In truth, the game was a typical Edinburgh derby in that both sides cancelled each other well and will rue opportunities they both passed up to win it. However, a point apiece was a fair reflection of a game devoid of penetrative quality.

The games are coming in thick and fast and there's now the double-header of Kilmarnock and St Johnstone this week. I'd happily snap your hand off for four points from these two games to maintain the momentum.

There's no doubt Critchley will rotate the squad for Kilmarnock, and given how leggy we looked in the Hibs game, I wouldn't be surprised if Lawrence Shankland is among the bigger names on the bench.

It's clear he's not hitting the form of his last couple of seasons and could do with a bit of a rest.

He will get back on the goal trail and he must look enviously towards Wilson, who has shown an instinctive knack for being in the right place at the right time. I'd give him the nod for a maiden start.

Image source, SNS

Hearts' Edinburgh derby hero James Wilson aims to prove he made the right decision in snubbing offers to leave Tynecastle.

The 17-year-old forward, who signed a new two-year deal last April amid interest from clubs including the Old Firm and Manchester United, came off the bench at Easter Road on Sunday to salvage a point with his second goal in consecutive appearances.

Wilson made his Hearts debut in January and has now made six substitute appearances, scoring in the last two.

"Ultimately the reason I stayed was because I wanted to play first-team football," he said. "It's a choice that not a lot of people make.

"I'm just hoping to prove there is the other option here where you stay, you fight for your place, and you try and have an impact.

"Ultimately, if I went down south, I don't know where I'd be at the moment. I could be playing Under-18 football down there, so I'm just trying to prove there's another option."

Wilson's deal expires next summer but new boss Neil Critchley said on Sunday a new contract for the teenager "has been mentioned" and is "on the radar of the people around me at the club".

Asked whether he expected to remain at Tynecastle beyond the end of this season, Wilson said: "Yeah, I hope to. I hope to keep playing well. Whatever happens, happens. I'm just working hard every day, trying to do what I can do."

Wilson scored his first goal in the closing stages of the 4-0 victory over St Mirren in Critchley's first match in charge before his big moment in Sunday's derby.

"As a young player, you're never quite sure when a new manager comes in, but he's been very good to me," he said.

"The manager just tells me to keep going, keep working hard. He wants me to just have an impact on the game when I come on. He was happy last week with the goal, and then the same message against Hibs, go on and try and get an equaliser, and I did that."

Image source, SNS

Hearts youngster James Wilson was "dreaming" of scoring a goal in the Edinburgh derby.

The 17-year-old came on as a substitute with Hearts trailing by a goal and netted his second senior goal to secure a point in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Easter Road.

Wilson also scored in last weekend's 4-0 victory over St Mirren nine minutes after being brought on.

"You have to grow up a bit when you are in these situations," the striker said.

"You want to just run around the pitch and cause as much hassle as you can but you need to switch on and take it all in and have as much impact as you can.

"That's [celebrating with the fans] what you dream of when you are coming on or last night when I was going to bed.

"I wanted to go on and celebrate in front of them. So it was a great moment."

We asked for your views on Hearts' 1-1 draw against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Steven: Decent result, decent performance. Controlled large parts of the game. Good saves from Craig Gordon. All this on the back of a massive Conference League performance on Thursday night. Would have taken a point before kick-off. It was a much more damaging result for Hibs. Another big game on Wednesday night against Kilmarnock, we need to keep the momentum going.

Kuptin: Well, at least Neil Critchley has seen first-hand what the rest of us had to watch for the time before he came. Hearts looked clueless until near the end. James Wilson should sub for Lawrence Shankland on the hour each game. Real bottom-of-the-table stuff.

Steve: As much as we enjoyed the European victory, we struggled to get anything against one of the worst teams in the league. A half-decent side would have scored three or four against us. Kye Rowles frequently lost his man, the midfield were static. Shankland and Kenneth Vargas don’t work together. The substitutions left me scratching my head.

Bryan: What a positive whirlwind the first week of the Critchley era has been. Two great wins and an Edinburgh derby draw. We couldn't really ask for more from him and the team. Shoots of recovery in almost every aspect of our game in only eight days and a feel-good factor returning.

Chris: Progress. We were not at our best in the final third but we controlled the majority of the game without doing much. Hibs are a poor football team and their hoof ball should have been punished. Shankland will be begging us for a new contract soon, he looks a shadow of the player we had. It has been a big week, I'm satisfied.

Jim: I'm not sure what to make of this, we need to convert chances. Shankland is possibly overthinking his chances now instead of instinct last season, relying on a young lad shows depth in the pool but Hibs were surely there for the taking. I'm convinced the manager learned more from this game than from his two wins, time will tell.

Watch highlights as Hibs draw 1-1 against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Image source, SNS

• Hearts have scored three goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (four) and Aberdeen (five) have scored more.

• Hibernian have attempted 12 shots in this game, with six (50%) from set pieces.

• Craig Gordon has made 5 saves, the first time he has made at least 5 saves in a match in the Premiership since facing Dundee on 11th May 2024 (5 saves).

• Mykola Kuharevich has scored two goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hibernian player has more.

Manager Neil Critchley says Hearts intend to extend the contract of James Wilson after the teenage striker came off the bench to score a late equaliser in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian at Easter Road. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Teenager James Wilson secured a dramatic late point for Hearts at Easter Road to keep Hibernian rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Mykola Kuharevich's close-range strike with his first touch following Marvin Ekpiteta's header off the crossbar put Hibs in front in the second half.

Were you at the match or following along from elsewhere? Tell us your thoughts on the game., external

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "I loved it, loved the experience. We wanted to come here and try and stamp our authority on the game and play our way, I felt we did that.

"We were quite wasteful at times in the final third in the first hal, [we] had threatening moments but didn't do enough with the ball.

"Second half, I felt we were in the ascendancy but to concede a goal in the manner we did was really disappointing. It's been an Achilles heel for us this season, I thought we'd ironed it out. Obviously not.

"Our response after that was fantastic. Real character after a tough week, physically, to finish the game as strong as we did. The subs made a big difference."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Head coach Critchley started life at Tynecastle with a 4-0 demolition of St Mirren and an impressive Conference League win midweek.

They've now scored at the death to deny their rivals the chance to leap above them in the league. These are all things going in their favour but they failed to create many clear-cut chances despite having plenty of the ball.

They finished the game with 64% of the ball, more touches in the opposition box than Hibs, and more passes into the final third. Plenty more attacking stats favoured them too.

However, they only registered two shots on target with the xG suggesting a more clinical Hibs side would have secured three points. The hosts registered 2.16 expected goals to Hearts' 1.15.

Shankland has yet to find his form of last season, with a few of his missed chances undoubtedly going down as goals just a few months ago.

They may have condemned Hibs to a longer stay at the bottom of the table but will need to find a clinical touch if they want to move away from the bottom two themselves.

Image source, SNS

James Penrice was a driving force for Hearts from the back, particularly in the first half.

His long throw is an attacking weapon if needed, evidenced in their equaliser.

Craig Gordon kept them in the game a couple of times and Alan Forrest also deserves a mention for his influence when he was introduced.