Stephen Kingsley conceded Hearts need to score more goals, but the experienced defender believes that the Tynecastle team are beginning to find that vital ingredient called consistency.
It is a word, he said, that the squad have been talking about and he added that recently the team have showed what they are capable of.
He added: “The league is very tight this season. For us, we have had a great last few weeks and we have a lot of games coming up against some top teams.
“If we keep showing that consistency I think we will be in a really good place.”
The 29-year-old added: “When teams come to Tynecastle they sit in and make it difficult for us to play through. You need to be patient and we need to take the opportunities when they come.
“We have had three good results recently but we need to score more goals. We have played well defensively and kept a lot of clean sheets but we have to kill teams off as early as we can and make it easier for ourselves.”
The Gorgie side travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) in the cinch Premiership and Kingsley recalled that they won there earlier in the season. It was the first time he has celebrated a victory with Hearts at Rugby Park. For the record, Alex Lowry scored the game-winner two minutes into injury time.
Stirling-born Kingsley, who has also played for Hull City and Swansea City, said: “It is a different challenge (going to Kilmarnock) and they are more used to Astro than us, but we have been training on the Astro this week and we will be ready for it.
“Hopefully, as it is a bit frosty, it may make the surface slicker which could help us but we expect it will be a hard surface.”
He added: “I have played there (Kilmarnock) a few times and the last time we were down was the first time I have won there. If I remember rightly, the performance was very good and hopefully we can show that consistency of performance.
“If we are clinical with the changes we get then, hopefully, we will be in a good position to get a result.”
Steven Naismith, Hearts’ head coach, is fully aware that the Jambos have a chance to win four games in a row for the first time in five years but he said: “It (Rugby Park) is a tough place to go for many reasons.
“We have played them (Kilmarnock) a couple of times so far and they (the games) have been tight. That is what you expect from the manager (Derek Mcinnes) and the biggest plus for them this season has been their recruitment which has been really good.”
Naismith looked back at the 2-1 victory in the League Cup on September 26 and said: “We did it (won) in the cup and the performance we put in that day was really good and there were some really good moments in it. We go down with real belief.
“The progression in the last month has been good and our all-round play has been getting better and better. The squad is in a good place in many respects. We have a competitive group and I am more looking forward to tomorrow (Kilmarnock) than anything else.”
PICTURE: Alex Lowry by Ian Jacobs in last Saturday’s home clash with St Johnstone
Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.
