Heart of Midlothian

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."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts head coach Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Edinburgh derby with Hibs.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Critchley is "very excited" for the derby and wants to try to make a "good week a great week" with a third win on the bounce.

• He notes Hearts and Hibs are both in "really good form" and it has the "makings of a really good game" with both sides going for victory.

• Cammy Devlin is a doubt and despite his lay-off being "frustrating" the club are taking no chances given it was a head knock. One or two other players will be assessed but Critchley is hopeful none will be ruled out.

• Critchley says there is a "different psychological feel" to this game compared to the previous meeting at Easter Road in late October when the teams were in the bottom two Premiership spots.

• With Hearts on a run of only one defeat since their Boxing Day loss to Hibs, he says finding a team's "identity takes time" and they are now reaping the rewards for improved consistency and becoming better at both ends of the pitch.

• There is a "new energy and enthusiasm from the players," says Critchley and he highlights the impact the January additions have had on the squad and their positive run of results, saying the "belief and togetherness" has grown.

• On VAR, he says he is "not in favour" of it and "never have been", adding it "detracts from the game" and ruins it for the fans, with Hearts "probably due a few" decisions their way if the outcomes supposedly even themselves out.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

After horrendous starts to the league season, Hibs stuck by their head coach while rivals Hearts changed theirs. Both strategies appear to have worked.

When the sides drew 1-1 at Easter Road in October, three games after Neil Critchley succeeded the sacked Steven Naismith, they remained tied on points at the foot of the table, with Hibs bottom on goal difference.

Few at the time would have fancied the chances of either finishing the season in third place.

After Hibs won 2-1 at Tynecastle on Boxing Day, Hearts were still stuck in second bottom, while the visitors' win merely lifted them five points clear of the relegation play-off spot, albeit up to seventh.

However, Sunday's derby has switched from being a relegation dogfight into a race to secure a place in the top half, with Hibs having moved up to fourth and Hearts to sixth - for the first time since August - after both enjoyed 3-1 wins in midweek.

Indeed, both will have their sights set firmly on catching an Aberdeen side who have regained third spot after ending a dismal spell of their own but suffered a 5-1 thumping away to leaders Celtic on Tuesday.

Hearts, though, can ill-afford to slip up this time as they head to the other side of Edinburgh Castle, considering they are four points behind Hibs and Dundee United - and a further point adrift of the Dons.

Critchley's side have suffered just one defeat - to second-top Rangers - in 12 outings and are seven unbeaten on the road.

However, David Gray's hosts are on an even more impressive unbeaten run of 14, winning 10 of them, eight of those at Easter Road.

A derby cracker would appear assured after Hibs and Hearts displayed their new-found resilience by coming back from a goal down to beat United and St Mirren, respectively, on Wednesday.

With seven goals in eight games since arriving on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise, striker Elton Kabangu has been instrumental in Hearts' mid-season push and will provide a stern test for the defensive stability that has been the foundation of Hibs' own recovery.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Richard Foster analyse the VAR-prompted decision to downgrade midfielder Killian Phillips' red card to yellow in St Mirren's midweek defeat at Hearts. (Available to UK users only)

We asked you for your thoughts on the 3-1 comeback win over St Mirren that sent Hearts into the top six.

Here's what some of you said:

Iain: Not the best of games but a win nevertheless. In the first half Hearts barely passed a ball and defended poorly. The boos at half-time were justified. Second half started poorly and I was on the verge of screaming at Neil Critchley to get some subs on when James Wilson equalised. What a lift that gave our players.

Chris: Very fortunate, poor defending allowed us a way back into the game but we were poor all over for long spells. Not sure how we won that game 3-1. The officiating tonight was diabolical, we need full-time referees.

William: In the first half, Hearts looked all over the place and St Mirren deserved their half-time lead. But whatever the manager said to the players at half-time certainly worked, we worked the ball well, moving it more crisply, and we ran out worthy winners.

Anon: Poor first half, defence rickety at times. New signings introduced and not fully match fit yet. Much better second half. Good and welcome result. Referee was weak and reactive. VAR poor and almost spoiled the match.

Jim: We need to start each match with more aggression, get on the front foot and keep the pressure on our opponents. Far too many misplaced passes, giving easy chances. Better up front now we have choices in attack but hope we have Cammy Devlin is back for Sunday's encounter.

Steve: Young James Wilson is improving with every game, Beni Baningime put in a good shift but we created very little. Got the points but the stats hide the reality. In what universe can you flatten someone late intentionally with your shoulder, as long as it's not your forearm? Why did VAR get involved? A red card all day long!

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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"It's always a tough game against St Mirren home or away, they always make it physical, they always make it a dogfight."

The words of Jamie McCart, sporting a proper shiner on his left eye, having been on the receiving end of a Mikael Mandron elbow and a Killian Phillips shoulder charge on a bruising night where Hearts' second-half comeback propelled them to a 3-1 win and top-six place.

Both St Mirren players saw yellow for their troubles, in fact Phillips briefly saw red before it was downgraded after a VAR intervention - not that Hearts boss Neil Critchley agreed.

"Having seen it back, I'm not sure he looks at the ball and he's jumped straight into the man, so I think that could be classed as dangerous play," said Critchley. "I'm not sure why the referee overturned it."

Despite that head knock, no Hearts player competed in more duels than defender McCart's tally of 21 and no player on the pitch won more than him (14), while he also led the way for Hearts with 13 clearances and four fouls won.

He wasn't the only Hearts player on the receiving end of some tasty challenges. St Mirren conceded 16 fouls, up on their average of 13 per match. Hearts only conceded eight.

Stephen Robinson's side were also shown four yellow cards and their total of 68 in the league so far is only bettered, if you can call it that, by Aberdeen.

All this tells us that McCart was right, it truly was a dogfight, but perhaps all that scrapping makes the perfect preparation before the game in every Hearts' fan's calendar - the Edinburgh derby.

Looking ahead to the huge game on Sunday, Critchley said: "We're in good form, but so are they. It's certainly going to be a different type of situation than I faced the first time I went to Easter Road back in late October. Both teams are in a different situation.

"They're in form, we're in form, so it's got the makings of a really exciting game. We look forward to it. We can go there in good confidence, but so are they. I think both teams will be looking forward to what should be a really good game."

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