Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has warned “people would be wrong to dismiss us” after his facet noticed their lead on the high of the Scottish Premiership lower to 2 factors.
Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox noticed Danny Rohl’s facet shut in on the Tynecastle Park membership, whereas Celtic’s 97th-minute winner at Kilmarnock means they might transfer stage with the Jambos ought to they win their sport in hand.
There are 11 video games left in Hearts’ season, and McInnes believes his group nonetheless have “a brilliant opportunity” within the battle for high spot.
“We’ve not really spoken to the players about bouncing back [from the defeat to Rangers]. I think that’s just in our nature; it’s part of the course. It’s not always going to be a bed of roses – you’ve got to respond.
“Away at Tannadice, St Mirren, Ibrox, coping with Celtic, enjoying the Hibs within the derby – we thought if we may nonetheless be high of the league once we come via these fixtures, then we had, on paper, doubtlessly a very good alternative between now and the break up.
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Highlights from Hearts’ defeat at Ibrox
“We’re nonetheless the place we’re, on the high of the league. It is necessary that we now deal with the job in hand and never dwell an excessive amount of.
“The truth that we’re the place we’re within the league, with 11 video games to go, sitting on the high. We have got to attempt to relish the chance.
“We have at all times anticipated a battle and we have at all times anticipated it to be tight. It is as much as us to attempt to profit from the state of affairs.
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“I see it still as a brilliant opportunity. Anybody who doesn’t, I think, is wrong, to be honest.”
Hearts’ subsequent sport is in opposition to Falkirk at Tynecastle Park, the place they haven’t misplaced a league match all season.
4 of the membership’s six pre-split fixtures are at house, with 4 of their upcoming video games additionally in opposition to groups within the backside half of the desk.
Because the variety of video games remaining continues to go down, McInnes was requested if the stress would then develop on the chasing pack.
He stated: “I think Claudio [Braga] said it has been 41 years or something since a team [outside of Celtic and Rangers] has been talked about like this and actually managed to win the league. From that point of view, there shouldn’t be any real pressure on us.
Claudio Braga (R) and Marc Leonard (L) each scored in Hearts’ defeat at Rangers
“We’ve just got to try and enjoy it. We are enjoying it, but nobody enjoys defeats. I want us to keep the sort of form that we’ve had up until now, because if we are consistent with those results, then it will go down that final straight. That’s all we want to do, make sure we’re still in the mix for it.
“It isn’t simply one another they [Celtic and Rangers] are competing with. They could assume it’s after Saturday, however I believe individuals could be fallacious to dismiss us.
“We’re still sitting on top of the league, and we’ve got such a strong home record. Hopefully, we can make some hay with the upcoming fixtures.”
