Neil McCann shook hands with his counterpart, David Gray, at pitchside after guiding lowly Kilmarnock to a narrow victory over Hibs at Easter Road in midweek, and the former Hearts player could claim a Capital league double as the deflated Hearts visit Rugby Park on Saturday (17.45pm).
George Stanger, who was called-up by New Zealand only hours before the game against Hibs, netted the game-winner, and the result brought the curtain down on a 12-year career for David Gray at Easter Road.
Kilmarnock dominated play for long spells and the result certainly took pressure off McCann (pictured), even if his men still prop up the 12-strong William Hill Premiership with four points from six starts.
The welcome win came only days after the club exited the Premier Sports Cup with a penalty shots defeat by Aberdeen at the BBSP Stadium, but McCann said he was really proud with the response shown by his squad after that hammer blow.
The former TV pundit declared that performance at Easter Road proved the character in the dressing-room. He added: “Nobody can say we didn’t deserve it.”
The club have derived big lift, so Hearts must beware.
The Gorgie side, who had won their previous nine matches, and were on a high after reaching the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, had hoped to move into second spot in the table with a win at the Falkirk Stadium, but they travel on a downer having been edged by Falkirk in Central Scotland.
The Men in Maroon remain in third spot with 12 points from six games but Wouter Vrancken’s troops are now six points adrift of Celtic who have an unblemished record.
Yes, it is early in the season, but the Jambos can’t afford a second slip-up this week as they are not back in league action until entertaining St Miren in Matchday Eight of 33 on October 10 (15.00). A long time to reflect.
Hearts have scored 13 goals, the second highest tally behind Celtic who are on 14, and conceded seven while scoring goals appears to be an issue for the Ayrshire side who have netted only five, level with third-bottom Falkirk as the worst so far, and let in 14 with only ninth-placed Hibs on ten, Dundee United, who are 11th, on 11 are the only other sides in double figures.
But Killie dug deep on Tuesday and Vrancken did not mince his words post-match in midweek. The performance, he said, was poor, particularly in the first half, and Hearts did not match the energy of their opponents.
The Belgian-born head coach also groaned that Hearts were re-active and that his men did not take the responsibility when they had the ball. He noted what he called “a panic” in the team after they went 1-0 down, and, overall, he declared: “It was not good enough.”
His coaching staff are now analysing the game and Vrancken said he hopes the result was “just a small setback”. You cannot win them all, he added, that the way you react after a game is vital.
Sportingly he said the 2-1 win was a “fully deserved victory for Falkirk”.
Meanwhile, Hearts’ Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hibs at Hampden has been confirmed for Sunday, November 1 (3pm) and Jambos supporters will be housed in the North, West and South Stands.
All tickets will be digital and there will be no paper tickets and they will be sold by the club but distributed via the Hampden ticketing app.
