Heart of Midlothian

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Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes 99% of Hibs fans would rather stop their rivals from winning the league than qualify for Europe themselves.

The sides meet at Tynecastle tonight for the third Edinburgh derby of the season, with Hearts three points clear at the top of the table and Hibs sitting fifth with 13 Premiership games left to play.

David Gray's side are still firmly in the hunt for a European place despite their Scottish Cup exit and could deliver a major blow to Hearts' title aspirations with victory in Gorgie.

"There's no doubting tonight's game is massive for both teams," Neilson told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"Because what have Hibs really got left to play for this season? Stopping Hearts winning the league.

"I think if you asked 99% of Hibs fans, would you want to make Europe or would you want to make sure you stop Hearts winning the Premiership, they would pick stopping Hearts.

"So these are their big games. This is their opportunity. Hearts are obviously going for the title. So it's a massive game and I'm looking forward to it."

Former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan believes his old side are in a good place despite losing key asset Kieron Bowie in the January window, and have come out of it looking stronger.

He said: "I definitely think they've strengthened. Getting the money in [club record fee] for Bowie was fantastic business considering they only signed them for £600,000.

"He had a great start to the season and was a focal point for Hibs but the signings they've brought in [look good].

"Dane Scarlett was excellent against Dundee United. Felix Passlack comes in with a good pedigree, Munashe Garananga is in from Copenhagen, so they've managed to fill positions in their team that they probably had to strengthen.

"So I think Hibs are in a good position."

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Midfielder Oisin McEntee expects a strong response from table-topping Hearts as they target a return to winning ways in tonight's "huge" Edinburgh derby.

The Tynecastle side were beaten 1-0 at St Mirren last time out - just a third league defeat of the season - and their lead was subsequently halved to three points when Rangers thrashed Kilmarnock.

Hibs, who beat Hearts 3-2 in the previous derby meeting at Easter Road, visit Gorgie tonight for a high-stakes showdown.

McEntee said: "I think the mood is OK. It's just one game and we just have to bounce back.

"It's been a brilliant season so far and you're going get setbacks. Teams are going to get setbacks.

"It's just how we bounce back from them and we haven't had many losses. It's obviously going to be a really tough game.

"It's a derby. It a huge game in the city. Huge game for us, huge game for Hibs so I think it's going to take care of itself. It's about the want to win.

"It's brilliant when you're doing it. It was a tough, tough day when we went there [Easter Road] and lost. That's the nature of a derby, isn't it?

"Everyone wants to win everything in the city. There's obviously two sides so you just want to come out on the right side of it.

"I think every game from now until the end of the season is going to be huge because there's so much riding on it so we just have to treat every game the exact same."

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Hearts' head coach Derek McInnes sought to clarify his comments on James Wilson's loan departure to Tottenham Hotspur, insisting there has been "no falling out" between the pair.

The 18-year-old joined the EPL giants on deadline day in a loan move that could become a permanent deal in the summer.

He will initially link up with Spurs' development squad, with McInnes commenting: "I don't think it's the right move for him. Ultimately, it's academy football and I think he's better than that."

Adding to his earlier remarks, the Hearts head coach said: "There's no falling out. I'm disappointed he took up the option but I really hope it goes well for him. I thought the best option, as I said to him and his agent, would be to stay here.

"He sees it as an opportunity. I had a chat with him a couple weeks ago on the back of Lawrence [Shankland]'s injury. There was a space there, that he had to try and get in for, and we had a chat about him not wanting to go out on loan.

"He came on against Celtic and was a step closer to playing with Lawrence's injury. But the interest from down south seemed to change their point of view."

McInnes was also asked about midfielder Beni Baningime, who seemed to confirm last week that he is in talks with the club about a new contract.

Baningime's contract ends in the summer and he has been a vital part of Hearts' title challenge.

"The talks are between [sporting director] Graeme Jones and Beni's agent," McInnes said.

"Beni knows how I feel about him. He's a player who has over his period of time at Hearts been good and in my time at Hearts, I'm really enjoying working with him. He's got a big part to play.

"I saw his comments the other night and there is conversations that have been had between the club and Beni's representative."

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Hearts' defender Craig Halkett is suspended after his red card in the defeat by St Mirren, but Christian Borchgrevink is back training and could be available.

Stephen Kingsley continues to miss out, along with Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock.

For Hibs, Jordan Obita, Grant Hanley and Josh Mulligan will all sit out through injury.

David Gray will give Jamie McGrath and Warren O'Hora until the last minute to prove their fitness.

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• Hearts have only lost one of their last eight home games against rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership (W3 D4), a 1-2 reverse in December 2024 under Neil Critchley.

• Hibernian have won three of the last four Edinburgh derbies in the Scottish Premiership (L1), as many as their previous 19 top-flight meetings with Hearts beforehand (W3 D9 L7).

• Heart of Midlothian are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games (W10 D4) since a 0-1 defeat to Dundee in April 2025. It's Hearts' longest unbeaten home run in the top-flight since October 2004, when they went 16 without losing – the 15th of which was a 2-1 win over rivals Hibernian.

• Since Christmas Day, only Rangers (22) have earned more points in the Scottish Premiership than Hibernian (14), who have won four and lost just one of seven league games in this time (D2).

• Since his debut for the club in July 2022, Hearts have only won six of the 20 league games in which Lawrence Shankland hasn't been in their starting XI (30 per cent). This is compared to a 50 per cent-win rate with the striker starting (60/119) in this period.

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Derek McInnes insists his Hearts players are not feeling the pressure after their lead at the top of the Premiership was cut in half.

Rangers' 5-1 rout of 10-man Kilmarnock in midweek moved them within three points of Hearts, while Celtic are six back with a game in hand.

When asked if there was anxiety creeping into the squad as a result of the narrowing gap, boss McInnes said: "None whatsoever.

"We've been top of the league for four-and-a-half months so there's no extra anxiety there at all.

"It's my job to give confidence to the players that we can win games. We've shown the consistency we're just looking for more of the same as we go along.

"We're into February, getting to the business end of the season and we're just looking for those improvements from the squad."

McInnes has urged patience over record signing Ageu and January arrivals Rogers Mato and Islam Chesnokov.

Ageu has been plagued by hamstring issues and is yet to start a game since signing last summer, while Uganda forward Mato and Kazakhstan winger Chesnokov have been restricted to just one substitute appearance each.

"I get the clamour for these players to be involved because nobody is more excited when we sign players than a manager who wants to bring in players who are ready," said McInnes.

"But the truth is they're not ready and we're trying hard to get them ready.

"When you sign players [Chesnokov] in a transfer window when their league finishes in November. it's difficult to get them up to speed. Scottish football in particular is that bit more intense.

"Managers want, as soon as they make signings, they want their signings to make that impact, but I've got to be fair to these boys as well.

"Ageu's had about two weeks' training and about seven months injured, so all of a sudden, because you lose a game, it doesn't mean to say 'you're in', and that's the answer.

"We want these players fit, they're signed for a reason, and hopefully they can have a positive influence on the team between now and the end of the season, and I've no doubts that they will."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Tuesday night's Edinburgh derby against Hibs at Tynecastle.

Here are the main points:

• After Rangers cut the gap on league leaders Hearts to three points, McInnes insists his players are not feeling the pressure: "We've been top of the league for four-and-a-half months so no extra anxiety."

• On the midweek defeat to St Mirren he admits "we had a bad night" but "can't dwell on a disappointing result".

• The Hearts boss was frustrated by Craig Halkett's sending off, their third in five games, which "made the whole evening far more challenging than it needed to be" but has "no complaints about any of the red cards".

• McInnes doesn't believe "there's a discipline problem" among his squad but stresses "we need to be fully focused at all times".

• Hearts were "hands down second best" in the previous meeting with Hibs, the 3-2 defeat at Easter Road in December, but McInnes takes confidence that "we still nearly got something from the game" after being three down.

• On Rogers Mato and Islam Chesknokov, McInnes understands "the clamour for these players to be involved", but says "they're not ready [to start], we're trying hard to get them ready".

• The Hearts boss confirms discussions are taking place with Beni Baningime's agent over a new deal and the midfielder "has a big part to play" at the club.

• On James Wilson's move to Tottenham, McInnes says "we had a good chat about him not wanting to go out on loan" before the interest from down south and suggests "he was maybe a step closer to playing because of Lawrence Shankland's injury".

• But McInnes adds: "There's no falling out, I'm disappointed he's taken up the option but I hope it goes really well."

• Team news: Halkett is suspended but Christian Borchgrevink is back training and could be available.

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Beni Baningime has revealed he is in talks with Hearts over a new deal - but is content to wait until the summer because he wants no distractions from the club's title bid.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been a key player in Premiership leaders Hearts' push for a first title since 1960.

"I'll be so real with you, I haven't thought about it," said Baningime.

"Right now, there's no time for that. There's no time for individual egos and 'I want this' or 'I want that'.

"My agent and the club are in contact and they're speaking. I know there were rumours out there saying they're not offering me a contract. So, yeah, I'll just clear that up. We are in contact."

Baningime, who moved to Tynecastle in 2021, was in a similar situation two years ago and waited until days before the end of the 2023-24 campaign before extending his deal.

"I've been through this before and ultimately, we're in a quest to win the league," he said. "Last time I think we were third two years ago, so we were on a good run both times but this is something new for us.

"So there's no thinking about me individually. It's about the team. I think everything sorts itself out. It always sorts itself out.

"It's not just me - it's Cammy Devlin, Frankie Kent, there's a few of us [out of contract]. Right now, we don't speak about it. It will get sorted out. But right now I have to think about the next game against Hibs. That's it."

Hearts aim to bounce back from their third league defeat of the season when they host Hibs in the derby on Tuesday.

The 1-0 loss at St Mirren on Tuesday - which allowed Rangers to narrow the gap at the top to three points - raised questions over whether Hearts are feeling the pressure of the title chase.

But Baningime said: "I think the questions have been going on since September. The gaffer and the staff tell us it ultimately doesn't matter what everyone thinks, it's what we're doing.

"I watch the Premier League and Arsenal drop points. That's football - you're going to drop points. Ultimately, it's how you respond.

"It's not about what anyone's saying out there. It's about us, it's about what we're doing and trying to make this season as special as possible.

"Hopefully we can do that. The next two games are massive, Hibs then Rangers. We need to stand up as men, we need to respond and we've done that all season. Hopefully it's the same this time."

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Former manager Robbie Neilson thinks Hearts' next two games - at home to Hibs and away to Rangers - will dictate how their title challenge plays out.

Hearts suffered just their third defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by St Mirren on Tuesday night, which allowed Rangers to move within three points of the table-topping Tynecastle side after a big win over Kilmarnock.

With Derek McInnes' side out of the Scottish Cup, they have a week to prepare for their next game - an Edinburgh derby at home to Hibs next Tuesday.

Five days after that match, Hearts travel to face Rangers at Ibrox.

"I think it's just week to week now," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast about the title race.

"Can Hearts get back and put a consistent run together and can they recover from a difficult result?

"St Mirren is always a difficult place to go for anyone and I just don't see any of the three top teams going on a six, seven, eight-game unbeaten run. So I don't think it'll be a seismic hit to Hearts. I think they'll regroup again."

Hearts struggled in the opening exchanges at St Mirren and their task was made even tougher when Craig Halkett was sent off after half an hour - a third red card in five games for McInnes' side.

"It obviously made a big difference to the game," Neilson added.

"It was difficult for them but you've seen in previous weeks that they've managed to recover from that and pick up points, maximum points at times.

"It'll be a hard one to take but they're still in a great position. It's a massive game now coming up next Tuesday against Hibs and then Rangers.

"So the next two games for them will probably dictate what way the season's going to go."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Hearts can have no complaints.

Miguel Freckelton's late header, fired beyond Alex Schwolow to seal a deserved St Mirren victory, merely underlined what had been apparent long before the final whistle.

From the opening exchanges Hearts looked off the pace. Even allowing for some admirable, at times heroic, defending after being reduced to ten men, few inside the ground could argue with the outcome of the game.

When Derek McInnes sits down to analyse this one there will be no shortage of moments to rewind, slow down and scrutinise. The decisive goal itself was born from a catalogue of errors that will irritate the Hearts manager far more than the final scoreline.

Should the initial cross that led to the corner have been blocked? Did Schwolow really need to push a ball that appeared to be drifting wide behind? Why was a six-foot-plus defender allowed to run unchallenged from the back post to the front and meet the header? And more broadly, where was the composure at the back that ultimately led to Craig Halkett's dismissal?

These questions - and several others - will be picked over forensically in the coming days. Lessons will need to be learned, and quickly.

But perspective matters. This was only Hearts' third defeat over 90 minutes all season. Offered that return last summer, anyone connected with the club would have snapped your hand off.

There is no reason for panic, no need for melodrama. Instead, there is an opportunity because next comes the perfect response game. Hibernian at Tynecastle. Under the floodlights. With scrutiny dialled all the way up and the footballing world watching.

The question will be asked loudly and repeatedly: do Hearts really have what it takes to go all the way in the Premiership title race?

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts suffered their third defeat of the season when they were beaten 1-0 by St Mirren on Tuesday night.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Calum: Worrying how we just can't seem to hack it when we set foot in Renfrewshire. Some of Derek McInnes' decisions are odd; such as starting PIerre Landry Kabore on the right when he's clearly a poacher/target man and taking off our best creative player for a centre-half. We simply cannot afford to tinker when we're at the top of the league. The derby is now an absolute must-win.

David: Three red cards in five games is not acceptable. Even before going down to 10 we looked off the pace and devoid of ideas and we were too slow to get the ball forward. Were it not for Alexander Schwolow we could have lost by a heavier margin. Two big games coming up, onwards and upwards !

Paul: Hearts having had three of their players sent off in the last five games clearly shows the pressure is now cranking up with a serious lack of real discipline creeping into the mindset of the team. It's now looking increasingly likely that this Tynecastle side's destiny is that they will be the masters of their own downfall. You have be razor focused in every match with sustainability and consistency being essential in winning any domestic league championship.

Chris: Waste of a trip to Paisley, awful performance. Bullied all over the park and St Mirren were hungrier than us and we got what we deserved, nothing.

Alan: Yet another tactical shambles by McInnes. He consistently picks the wrong team formation against St Mirren. We are missing our three best players for a crucial derby match. Tuesday night was another big crunch match that this club has failed to win, there have been many of them over the years. We have a history of shooting ourselves in the foot and it looks like we're going to do it again. Wins against Hibs and Rangers are essential now but unlikely after that abject performance. They insist on doing things the hard way.

Sjm: Same old rubbish from McInnes. Team selection and tactics, why take of Alexandros Kyziridis and keep Kabore on? Pedestrian midfield and no recognised right-back, Michael Steinwender and Stuart Findlay proving liabilities, feel sorry for Craig Halkett dropped in it by Findlay. We never at any point looked like beating the second worst team in the league who've only one one game in their last eight games. We'll win nothing under McInnes.

Leaders Hearts remain six points in front as they were beaten for only the third time in the Premiership this season, with Miguel Freckleton's 88th-minute header ending a poor run of form for St Mirren.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has no complaints about the red card but is critical of his players' approach before Craig Halkett's dismissal.

"To lose a goal from a set-play with two minutes to go is pretty galling," he told BBC Scotland. "We should deal with that, we can't have a free header in the middle of our goal. And it's harsh on us because we put so much into it.

"We came here to win and we gave up that opportunity by not playing forward. We got to the top of the league by being that team, but tonight we were guilty of not playing forward in that early part of the game.

"We needed more forward runs and passes into space."

McInnes shrugs off the notion that the absence of Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin was a factor, saying: "It's got nothing to do with that.

"We've got players who needed to play the game a bit differently today, that's all. I thought we were OK, but any problems we had were caused by ourselves.

"It's the third time in five games we're down to 10 men which gives us a mountain to climb. We were guilty of putting ourselves in a fankle, to cause the red card.

"We had two opportunities to play forward, refused to do it, and got caught on the ball unnecessarily.

"You've got to work that bit harder to try and give the lads a chance to stay in the game. We almost did it. The fact that we've been down to 10 and got winning performances previously meant they knew what needed to be done.

"No one could have denied, because of the effort we put in, that we could have earned a point tonight. But we came here to win and we gave up that opportunity to win on the back of not playing forward.

"We got to the top of the league of being that team [that played forward] and tonight, we were guilty of not doing that in the early part of the game. We needed more runs from the forward line and more passes into space, to make them think twice."

We asked for your thoughts on Hearts' business in the January transfer window.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: The players that have come in - time will tell but on the surface they look good acquisitions. Should we have got more in? Hard to do well in January but Beni Baningime and Cameron Devlin are serious losses. Those going out - it would have been good to get one or two more off the books but that is also hard to do, contracts tend to be run down rather than ended early.

Daniel: Almost a perfect window. Another striker would've been ideal but I would feel slightly greedy to say we absolutely needed one. Some decent outgoings, I think Alan Forrest is the only one that really should've gone that didn't, 8/10.

Malky: Very happy, can't have any complaints, we've strengthened the areas we needed to on the right side, got a very capable cover for Cammy and a very exciting signing in Rogers Mato all while not affecting the camaraderie and togetherness of the squad. Another striker would've been a cherry on top but Claudio Braga and Landry Kabore showed in the last two games what they can do so we're comfortable until Lawrence Shankland comes back.

Gordon: Pleased with the good business coming in but a little disappointed James Wilson has gone on loan with option to buy, it better be a very good fee. I felt he could have stayed and collected his title medal and we might have needed him for the run-in.

Peter: Time will tell, but Hearts can be satisfied having brought in recruits who offer us good options in several positions. Marc Leonard has started very well, Jordi Altena looks to be a good fit and we are yet to see if and how Islam Chesnokov and Mato can perform for us. Ageu, our record signing earlier, can also bring us a new dimension. Hearts management can be applauded for their swift reaction to the recent injuries and our chances of winning the title have been strengthened as a result, many bridges to cross still.

Ian: I don't think Wilson would have made it at Hearts. He was far too light for a striker, he needs to put a lot of weight on as he is too easy to get the ball off.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

When Tony Bloom said last summer that within 10 years he could see Hearts winning the title, it's clear his message was misheard. He clearly meant within 10 months.

It feels crazy that we are now into February and still top of the table, with the lead extended from four to six points thanks to Rangers' slip-up at Easter Road.

The most important thing in the January transfer window is you finish with a stronger squad than the one you went in with.

We've recruited a right-back to fill the troublesome position, two wingers in the style Derek McInnes wants and a centre midfielder who offers something different to the existing options.

The only players shipped out are fringe men, so it's been a very successful transfer window that both McInnes and sporting director Graeme Jones deserve enormous credit for.

While James Wilson joining Spurs is a move we may have regrets on longer term, the fact is he cannot make a more meaningful contribution to the first team than Lawrence Shankland, Claudio Braga and Landry Kabore.

I would have wanted to add a 'targetman' striker, but that's about seven transfer windows we've failed to recruit one.

The trip to St Mirren tonight is arguably the most important fixture so far this season. If we win, we temporarily go nine points clear of Rangers and Celtic. The pressure then immediately increases on those sides to respond.

I'm convinced one of them implodes within the next half a dozen games and it's likely to be whoever loses in the next Old Firm derby, so we must keep the momentum going until then.

Alexandros Kyziridis, Braga and Kabore are a good combination for the next few weeks while Shankland is still out injured and they can really put pressure on the St Mirren backline.

One of the many benefits McInnes has brought this season is a confidence in our away performances.

Hopefully it's third time lucky tonight in Paisley after our League Cup quarter-final defeat on penalties and fortuitous 2-2 draw in October.

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• Only against Ross County (nine) and Motherwell (eight) has Hearts' Lawrence Shankland scored more Scottish Premiership goals than he has against St Mirren (seven), with the forward netting five in his past seven league appearances versus the Buddies.

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past seven Scottish Premiership games at home to Hearts (W2 D4), a 2-1 reverse in April 2024.

• Hearts have only suffered one defeat in their past eight league meetings with St Mirren (W5 D2), going down 2-1 in September 2024 in what was Steven Naismith's final game in charge of the club.

• St Mirren have only won one of their past 33 league games against opponents starting the day top of the Premiership (D4 L28), a 2-0 home win over Celtic in September 2022.

• Hearts are unbeaten in seven top-flight games played on a Tuesday (W5 D2) since a 3-1 defeat at Celtic in January 2018.

With the transfer window now shut, we want to know if you think your team have made the right moves.

League leaders Hearts signed four players - forwards Rogers Mato and Islam Chesnokov, loan midfielder Marc Leonard and full-back Jordi Altena.

Teenage striker James Wilson departed on deadline day to join Tottenham in a loan move that could become permanent, while Zander Clark and Sander Kartum have also gone out on loan.

With Hearts six points clear at the top, has their January business left the club well placed to secure the title?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Tottenham's pre-agreed summer fee for loan signing from Hearts, James Wilson, 18, is set at £2.5m. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow says his competition for a starting spot with Craig Gordon can only benefit the club as they try to stay top of the Scottish Premiership.

Schwolow has been Hearts' number one for most of the season after signing from Union Berlin in the summer, but his red card against Dundee last month opened the door for Gordon to take the gloves and the Scotland veteran excelled, particularly in the win over Dundee.

The German was disappointed that Gordon kept his place for the recent draw against Celtic, but was delighted to return to the starting XI for Saturday's win at Dundee United.

"We had an open exchange," Schwolow said when asked if he had spoken to head coach Derek McInnes about the team selection against Celtic.

"Of course I can understand the reasons and just try to be professional, try to be ready. Seven days later my professionalism got granted, so I'm very happy about that.

"You always want to play and I was very happy that the gaffer put the trust back in me.

"This situation is a little bit special. I think we're both great goalkeepers. Craig is also a club legend, so it makes it a little bit special.

"I think we both try to stay professional and it's a positive pressure, I think for both of us.

"I think on the pitch you always saw good performances from us, so that's what it's all about because it's about the team in the end."