Since Hearts’ 1-0 victory at Rugby Park on December 2, only Rangers have defeated Kilmarnock in the Premiership. This figure emphasises how challenging the Edinburgh club’s goal for Saturday is, as they want to secure three points that would mathematically secure third place and ensure them a spot in the European competition the following season.
The footballing prestige is far more significant than the £5 million in additional money from UEFA. In order to really accomplish that goal this weekend, the Rangers must first achieve something that every other club in the league has found difficult recently. Under manager Derek McInnes, Kilmarnock are a skilled, driven, and well-organized team, as seen by their three losses in their last 21 games since the loss to Hearts back in December. Along with the two Rangers losses last month, Aberdeen eliminated them from the Scottish Cup.
Hearts’ task is therefore clear: they won the League Cup at Rugby Park last September and can thus boast of winning both of their visits there this season. A win on Saturday would complete a primary pre-season goal established by both management and directors. Naturally, the home team will not lack motivation as they attempt to move up to fourth place, and with it, a spot in the Europa League’s second qualifying round. Currently, they are 11 points behind third-place Hearts.
There are several implications prior to this fixture. Hearts’ coaching team has talked with players to find out where they need to improve after Hearts’ semi-final Scottish Cup loss to Rangers on Sunday. After posting only two clean sheets in their last eight games – one of those being against Championship side Morton – defending has been under the microscope at Riccarton this week.
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith stated, “We have talked about the need to defend better than we have in recent games because Kilmarnock have had a brilliant season. They are a tough team who know what they are doing. They have dangerous wide players and forwards on form.”
“I believe that both clubs are feeling a little differently about this game. They both feel at ease with the distance between us, yet you are performing better than them in the league. We played them not too long ago so everybody will know what to expect. Pitch is the other factor. It does alter your style of play. Even when players are not at fault, opportunities can still arise. It’s the surface.”
Although Sunday’s disappointment has subsided, Naismith is unable to ignore the cup departure. He thinks that these kinds of encounters teach us valuable lessons for the future. “You have that let down feeling, so it stays for a few days. According to his perspective, these events can look back on as positives as long as there is improvement, he stated.
“We are at step one. It’s our first season together, and it’s a really young squad. It’s not like we are at the end of a cycle with the squad and there is great hope that we should be winning trophies; the expectation is that high because you have progressed over a number of years.”
“I think it will drive the hunger. We are bitterly disappointed when we concede goals because we are better than that. Hopefully, in a few years, we can look back and see the positives from these negatives.” “To have two semi-finals, that experience and disappointment just drives the hunger.”
