Heart of Midlothian

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What a difference a week makes. In Gorgie the bedsheets covered in black marker pens have been quietly put back into storage after Hearts recorded back-to-back victories on the road.

Credit where it's due, Steven Naismith has managed to turn round the fortunes of our side as we have progressed to the League Cup semi-final at Hampden and propelled ourselves into fourth place in the Premiership table.

While I don’t think Naismith had my column from last week pinned on the away dressing-room wall at Rugby Park for motivation, he knew he had to win given the graffiti spraypainted at Tynecastle and banners hung in the area from disgruntled supporters wanting change – including at boardroom level – earlier in the day.

I’m sure it was an entertaining cup tie for the neutral and I’ll admit I was fearful when Kilmarnock equalised. However, thanks to an inspired substitution from Naismith, Alex Lowry coolly slotted the winner in injury time.

Then fast forward to Dingwall, ‘super sub’ Lowry came off the bench once again and this time provided a delicious assist for fellow sub Alan Forrest to head in the winner and further ease the pressure around the club.

Kudos to Naismith for his use of substitutes over the last 180 minutes, which has undoubtedly resulted in two positive results and helps build momentum going into a crucial triple-header of the visit of Hibs followed by the Old Firm home and away.

Hibs, under new manager Nick Montgomery, focus on playing attacking football but are still vulnerable defensively and are reliant upon SPFL pensioners Lewis Stevenson and Paul Hanlon.

And when you add in the fact Hibs play a two-man midfield with four attackers, I’m rubbing my hands with glee at the prospect of us lining up with Robbie Neilson’s tried and trusted 3-4-1-2 that Naismith has settled on.

There’s no doubt every Jambo will be behind Naismith and the team on Saturday for the Edinburgh derby as it’s imperative we continue the form and feelgood factor from the last week, otherwise the international break will be spent discussing whether we need change once again in Tynecastle from manager to boardroom.

Talks over Heart of Midlothian's captaincy will take place this month as club skipper Craig Gordon prepares to resume his playing career after 10 months out injured and with striker Lawrence Shankland having carried out the role since the goalkeeper suffered a double leg-break. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Hearts manager Steven Naismith believes Alex Lowry is beginning to put in the level of performances he needs to start consistently.

Against Ross County on Saturday afternoon, the on-loan attacker came off the bench to provide the assist for Alan Forrest’s decisive header, just days after scoring the winner in the League Cup quarter final against Kilmarnock.

While Lowry’s quality on the ball has rarely been questioned, Naismith says it is the lessons he is learning out of possession that will earn him a spot in the starting XI on a more regular basis.

“He probably could be a bit disappointed not to start [against Ross County], but I was thinking more about our structure and I knew it was going to change in the second half,” Naismith said.

“I challenge him all the time to give us an end product and I thought he was really good off the ball today. We can’t have a luxury player, he needs to be in certain positions and I thought he did that really well when he came on.

“For 90 per cent of his youth career he has been on the front foot. He has come in here where teams play more directly than he will have been used to and he needs to learn that.

“A lot of the time when the second ball dropped, he was on it because his positioning was brilliant.

“That’s the part he needs to do consistently and then he can ask to start. He has done that in the last two games, which is pleasing.”

Image source, SNS

Hearts attacker Alex Lowry has made Sportscene presenter, Jonathan Sutherland's, team of the week for his vital, cameo performance in the win against Ross County.

The on-loan Rangers man had the vision to spot Alan Forrest for the only goal of the game.

Image source, Opta

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked for your views on Hearts' 1-0 win over Ross County

Alfie: Good win, can’t complain too much about that. However, we need to move our focus from the win on to the derby. We need 100% focus on training for the derby and we need a 100% performance in the derby. Anything less than a win will not be good enough! We must carry on this winning momentum and it better not be stopped the worst way possible!

Lindsay: Better performance in second half but need a more settled team.

Hearts are preparing to welcome Cammy Devlin back to training on Monday and should have the Australian midfielder available for next weekend's Edinburgh derby. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Did you travel to Dingwall for a rare Hearts win on the road?

Wherever you followed, we want to hear your thoughts. Have Naismith's Hearts turned a corner?

Get in touch.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "Good win. I thought for a lot of the game we were comfortable without that urgency in attack. Defensively, we were very sound. I thought we were slightly slow with the ball.

"Dingwall is a tough place to come. County were well organised. We did a professional job and it's one that gives us confidence.

"We just felt we weren't getting natural runs forward so we made a couple of changes. The guys that started the game had a job to do and did it and the guys came on, we know they were more attacking players, to find us that moment of quality.

"The guys who are on the bench, I consistently say to them that everyone will have a chance to make an impact on the team. I think we've shown that this week."

Image source, SNS

Iain Auld, BBC Sport Scotland

Hearts fans follow their side round the country in large numbers and are not often rewarded in the way of away wins.

However, this week the Jambos have seen their team win twice on their travels in five days. this afternoon's performance will go down as a collector's item.

Steven Naismith's side delivering the complete performance and were dominant throughout. The back three of Kye Rowles, Frankie Kent and Toby Sibbick were solid.

Calem Niewenhof was assured in the middle with Jorge Grant and Aidan Denholm impressing. The creative spark eventually added with the silky pairing of Alex Lowry and Alan Forrest.

Not always the most stylist name on the Hearts teamsheet, Forrest showed his worth in adding life to a previously limp visiting attack.

Whether he can earn himself a regular berth in the starting XI is yet to be seen.

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith makes two changes to the side that left it late to seal a Viaplay Cup semi-final spot at the expense of Kilmarnock.

Cammy Devlin hasn't managed to get over an illness so drops out the squad entirely, while Alan Forrest has to make do with a seat on the bench.

They're replaced by Odeluga Offiah and Aidan Denholm.

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Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Baldwin, Nightingale, Leak, Purrington, Randall, Turner, Dhanda, Samuel, White

Substitutes: Munro, Allardice, Loturi, Murray, Harmon, Henderson, High, Brophy, Smith

Hearts: Clark, Offiah, Kent, Rowles, Kinglsey, Nieuwenhof, Sibbick, Denholm, Grant, Vargas, Shankland

Substitutes: McGovern, Haring, Banningime, Boyce, Halliday, FOrrest, Tait, Kirk, Lowry

Image source, BBC Sport