Heart of Midlothian

Three of Hearts' Scottish Premiership fixtures in November and early December have been selected for television coverage.

The Jambos trip to Ibrox on Sunday, 11 November will kick-off at 17:00 GMT in front of the cameras, while the visit of Celtic on Saturday, 23, November has been pushed back to 19:45.

Aberdeen travel to Tynecastle on Sunday, 1 December and kick-off has been confirmed as 15:00.

Additionally, Hearts welcome St Johnstone on Sunday, 22 December and kick-off has been declared as 15:00, though this game is not on TV.

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Dinamo Minsk warmed up for Thursday's Conference League opener at home to Hearts with a 2-0 defeat of Isloch that puts them top of the Belarusian Premier League.

Head coach Vadim Skripchenko described it as the "strongest and high-quality" performance from his team in five games since losing 1-0 home and away to Anderlecht in Europa League qualifying.

It means four 2-0 home wins have straddled a 1-0 defeat away to Vitebsk.

Ivory Coast midfielder Boni Amian scored six minutes after the break and again shortly before the final whistle.

Neman Grodno's 0-0 draw away to Naftan means the reigning champions now lead on goal difference with two games in hand.

Amian had been one of four changes made by Skripchenko against 11th-placed Isloch following the previous week's derby win over Minsk.

Veteran defender Aleksandr Sachivko and midfielders Gleb Zherdev and Nikita Demchenko also started.

Defender Sergey Politevich, midfielder Raymond Adeola and forward Maksim Budko dropped to the bench, while midfielder Daniil Kulikov missed out.

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

Available to UK viewers only.

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

Here's what some of you said:

Bob: Hearts dominated possession again in yesterday's game but lacked cutting edge up front. Despite controlling the ball, their attack felt tame and uninspired. Lawrence Shankland, while talented, isn't showing the leadership needed as captain. It's clear we need a strong manager to assert authority and transform the team into an attacking force.

Steve: Glad to see a back four but too many long balls to players with little support. We are too spread out as a team, we bypass midfield most of the time as there are a few options. Celtic go forward as a team, attack as a team and defend as a team, we need the midfield to be more dynamic. Jorge Grant and Cammy Devlin are not the answer.

George: Hopefully the board will choose the right man for Hearts new manager/coach. I'd prefer a fresh outlook from a foreign candidate but the board's track record is not great with managerial decisions so I'm fearful of another two seasons wasted by the wrong appointment. Fingers crossed.

Jim: Not good enough, it shows how bad things are when a home draw against Ross County is good news. No disrespect to County, but Hearts should never be put in the hands of a rookie manager ever again. Forget about Europe, third place is probably gone, we now have a fight on our hands this season.

David: Only Alan Forrest and Beni Baningime get pass marks. Last season, Shankland would have had a hat-trick. A manager with a proven track record needs to be appointed as a matter of urgency.

David: Who would have thought we'd be celebrating a draw at home to Ross County? Same old story - lots of possession and no end product. His goal aside, Shankland is a shadow of the player of last season. Can't see any improvement in the short term and the need for more strikers has never been so apparent.

Richard: Not a terrible performance but not great either. But much of that's because of the opposition - against a better team than Ross County we'd have looked pretty bad. Beni had some excellent interceptions and looked the pick of our side. I think any observers from Minsk will be pretty happy at their chances. A scramble at the bottom of the league awaits us.

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Lawrence Shankland "has faith" that Hearts' goal-scoring fortunes will change, after his header rescued a late draw for the Jambos against Ross County.

Hearts, who are without a manager after Steven Naismith's departure, sit bottom of the Premiership having picked up just two points from their opening seven games, having scored only four goals in that time.

"It's more the team results that have been the frustration," Shankland said. "The goal scoring part, I have faith that will change and hopefully this is the start of that.

"When you are not in form yourself that can be tough to take, when you have to manage yourself and the full team, but we have a good group in there and we have tried to stick together through that.

"It has been difficult at times but hopefully this is the start of a change."

Shankland's header was his first of the new season, following a season in which he netted 31 times for Hearts.

"It was a good ball from Yan Dhanda and I just put my head to where it was going. Thankfully enough it bounced off and went in.

"You take those ones when you are on the run we have been on. Hopefully that's our luck changing a bit. It was important we try and take something out of the game."

Prior to the draw with Ross County, Hearts had lost their last eight games, failing to pick up any points in the league since the opening day draw with Rangers.

"When things are not going well it's not easy. We feel that pressure from being at this club. It's not easy to break the chain but we keep battling away.

"The boys have tried to stay together at times but it’s been difficult. We have been trying to grind through it but hopefully this result will give us some positivity with a result back on the board and sometimes that can be enough to change things going forward."

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• Hearts have failed to win in their last nine games in the Premiership. Their last longer winless streak was from 23rd November 2019 to 22nd January 2020, a run of 10 games.

• Ross County have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of four games from 4th May 2024 to 19th May 2024.

• Kye Rowles attempted 103 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hearts player in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have lost four points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (six) and St. Mirren (seven) have lost more.

Gareth Ainsworth, who led Wycombe Wanderers from League Two to the Championship, says he is ready to help Heart of Midlothian reclaim their identity as Scotland's third force with the 51-year-old Englishman applying for the head coach role following his eight-month sabbatical since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers. (Sunday Mail), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Did you attend Hearts' draw with Ross County or were you following from home?

Click here, external to have your say on the match.

Hearts interim head coach Liam Fox: "We're not celebrating a draw at home but the message I want to get across is that the players kept going right to the end.

"We can do better, we know that."

Andy Campbell, BBC Scotland

Hearts face the arduous journey to face opening Conference League opponents Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan on Thursday then visit Aberdeen the following Sunday.

Winning this game would have been the ideal boost and though their winless run stretches to a 12th game, Lawrence Shankland's late goal gives them something of a tonic.

In truth, they should have been in front early on. Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw could only palm a shot from Alan Forrest and Shankland pinched the ball just next to the byeline to tee up Forrest, whose shot was blocked by Ryan Leak.

After, after falling behind, they carved an excellent chance when Stephen Kingsley found Shankland with a back-post cross and the Scotland forward nodded wide.

Substitute Barrie McKay struck wide after a one-two with Shankland and both Jorge Grant and Shankland were denied by Laidlaw as time ticked away. Shankland would have the final say, though.

Lawrence Shankland probably should have scored before eventually drawing Hearts level in the 96th minute but he got his goal in the end - a first of the season.

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Liam Fox makes five changes to the Hearts line-up in his first match in interim charge following Steven Naismith's departure.

A new look defence comprises Adam Forrester, Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles alongside Stephen Kingsley, who is the only survivor from last week's back four.

In midfield, Cammy Devlin takes over from Malachi Boateng while Alan Forrest replaces Blair Spittal.

Fox's team looks like a 4-3-3 with Forrest and Kenneth Vargas either side of captain Lawrence Shankland as the hosts look to arrest an 11-match winless streak that stretches back to May and includes eight successive defeats.

Just one change for Ross County following last week's draw with St Johnstone. Michee Efete replaces James Brown in midfield.

Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley, Grant, Baningime, Devlin, Forrest, Shankland, Vargas.

Substitutes: Clark, Halkett, Oyegoke, McKay, Spittal, Dhanda, Tait, Boyce, Penrice.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Campbell, Wright, Lopata, Leak, Efete, Nisbet, Randall, Chilvers, Hale, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Brown, Loturi, Grieves, Telfer, Samuel, Brophy, Smith, Nightingale.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts have told BBC Scotland they have received close to 100 notes of interest for the vacant managerial position after the sacking of Steven Naismith.

The list of applicants is made up of individuals making direct contact and agents acting on behalf of those interested in the vacancy.

As well as UK-based candidates, there have been applicants from around the world.

The formal process to whittle down the number of names to a manageable number of serious contenders will now begin. A sub-group of executive and non-executive members within the club will be handed this task.

The club's new sporting director Graeme Jones, who does not officially start in his new role until November, will play a part in in the process as Hearts have reached an agreement with his current employer, the Scottish FA. He can work a number of days prior to joining up with Steve Clarke's squad for the next two Scotland matches.

Jamestown Analytics, who are in talks with Hearts regarding a partnership, will also be heavily involved in the process.

Once interviews take place and a preferred candidate is nominated, this will go to the full board for the decision to be ratified.

No timescale has been placed on finding the successor to Naismith but it’s highly unlikely this will be before next Sunday's trip to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Vikingur head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson, the former Leicester City manager, is now the bookmakers' favourite to take over at Heart of Midlothian. (The Scotsman), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Hearts right-back Gerald Taylor is facing a long-term lay-off with suspected ACL damage so teenager Adam Forrester is set to be promoted to the squad. Frankie Kent returns after an ankle injury but Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still out.

Ross County will be without defenders George Harmon (ankle), Ricki Lamie (Achilles) and Josh Reid, who is still recovering from a heavy knock.

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Interim Hearts head coach Liam Fox says that managers are "lucky" to survive 18 months in a job and some choose to be assistants because it's "safer".

Fox, 40, who lasted just five months in his only role as a head coach at Dundee United, has stepped up from his position as B team manager after the sacking of first-team boss Steven Naismith.

"Every manager and every coach needs time and sometimes you don't get that," said Fox.

"You are lucky you get 18 months. That's just the nature of the job and how it is.

"Everyone wants success today. When you step into that you are aware of what the consequences could be.

"I've been there and gone through that. I think there is always a thing at the back of your head or an itch to scratch to test yourself and know you can do it. But the timelines are so short and the game is so ruthless.

"I can see why people want to be assistant managers or being coaches. It's maybe a wee bit safer.

"Am I happy doing that? I’ve gone on record at some point to say that in the future I would want to have another shot at it, but I'm in absolutely no rush to do that.

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Interim Hearts head coach Liam Fox has been speaking to the media for the first time since Steven Naismith was sacked.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Fox is very disappointed to hear that three good people - Steven Naismith, Frankie McAvoy and Gordon Forrest - have lost their jobs. "Every manager needs time but you don't get that."

• He adds that managers are "lucky" if they get 18 months in a job. Fox says that's just "the nature" of it, because everyone demands success today.

• Fox has spoken to Naismith. While Fox wouldn't go into details about the conversation, he says Naismith was "really supportive" and "that's how he is".

• The interim boss believes there is a good group of players at Hearts who can still salvage the season.

• Full-back Gerald Taylor is out "for a long period of time" with a knee injury sustained against St Mirren last weekend. Fox doesn't know the exact timescale for the Costa Rican's return and says 19-year-old Adam Forrester could be promoted from the B team in Taylor's absence.

• He also highlighted how a big week this is for the club, with a Premiership clash against Ross County on Saturday before a trip to Dinamo Minsk in the Conference League on Thursday. Says it's imperative "we get them back on track and winning games of football".

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The Athletic's Jordan Campbell believes potential investment from Brighton owner Tony Bloom could give Hearts a "long-term lift".

Bloom has held talks with the Tynecastle club that could lead to Hearts utilising the entrepreneur's analytical company for player recruitment.

"There's been a bit of distraction off the pitch with the Brighton link and how that might change them long-term," Campbell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"So, you've got that sort of dichotomy of the short-term pain of losing momentum over the last couple of years, crossed with the fact that there looks to potentially be something really exciting.

"It could give them a lift long-term, Hearts have just got to get over the line."

Steven Naismith was sacked as Hearts head coach just six Scottish Premiership games into the season, with the club sitting bottom of the table without a win.

"At a club like Hearts where the fans would expect them to finish at least third and win a cup, it's difficult to get out of that when you make such a bad start," added Campbell.

"Hearts need to turn the corner and get [Lawrence] Shankland back to the player that we've seen in last few years.

"I don't think this is a true reflection of that Hearts squad. It's a much stronger squad than where it is. I don't think over one summer it completely collapses.

"So, I expect Hearts to, over the next couple of months, regain some sort of foothold in the league and beat Ross County at home this weekend."

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Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell is not surprised Rugby Park manager Derek McInnes is being linked to the vacant managerial position at Hearts.

The 53-year-old guided his side to a fourth-placed finish last season, securing European football for the first time in five years.

"He's done a brilliant job since he's come in," Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They've not hit the ground running in the league, but they've got a good squad there.

"I expect him to stay at Kilmarnock, but there's no surprise for me that a manager of the calibre of Derek McInnes is getting linked to Hearts.

"Hopefully, certainly for my sake, he does stay at Kilmarnock and continues the journey he's going on.

"But they need a result as well. They're desperate on getting a league result and getting three points on the board to kickstart the season."

Craig Halkett aims to enjoy Hearts' Conference League campaign after injury prohibited his involvement last time out. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell expresses "disappointment" at Steven Naismith losing his job as Hearts head coach. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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• Hearts have lost just one of their 15 top-flight home games against Ross County (W6 D8), going down 0-1 in March 2017.

• After their 2-1 win in March last season, Ross County could win back-to-back top-flight meetings with Hearts for the first time, with this the 30th such clash between the two clubs.

• Hearts have just one point from six Scottish Premiership matches this season (W0 D1 L5), the fewest by any side at this stage of a season in the competition since Dundee in 2018-19 (0).

• The last side to have one or fewer points from their opening seven games in the division were in fact Ross County in 2014-15 (0).

• Ross County are winless in their last 19 away league games (D7 L12) since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023.

• The last side to go 20 consecutive top-flight away games without winning were Dundee from August 2004 to August 2012, while the last to do so without being relegated during the run were St Mirren from November 2009 to October 2010.

• Ross County have conceded more second-half goals (eight) than any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, with this also accounting for a league-high 73% of their total goals shipped this term.