Neil Critchley challenges Hearts to handle derby heat in Easter Road cauldron as boss warns 'we're used to it'
The Jambos made it 1 loss from 11 after coming from behind to beat St Mirren 3-1 at Tynecastle ahead of Sunday's capital clash
Neil Critchley insists Hearts are ready for the Easter Road cauldron after a stirring fightback to beat St Mirren teed them up perfectly for Sunday’s demolition derby.
A storming second half saw the Jambos leapfrog the Paisley side into the top six for the first time this season. Goals from Tynecastle wonderkid James Wilson, Calem Nieuwenhof and an injury time Kenneth Vargas strike sealed the points. Hearts have now lost just once in 11 games while HIbs are unbeaten in 14. And with just four points separating the rivals with the Leith men in fourth, the Tynecastle boss threw down the gauntlet down to his stars.
He said: “We’re in good form but so are they. It’s a different situation to the last time we went to Easter Road. It has the makings of a really exciting game. We just want to keep winning games of football. That’s the first time we have been in the top six.
“Everyone is contributing, that’s called being a team. We play in a cauldron here every week so we’re used to it. Both teams will be looking forward to it, may the best team win on the day.”
Hearts had to overcome a rocky first half which saw the trail to Mikael Mandron’s opener. Critchley added: “We didn’t play well in the first half, our quality wasn't good enough, we made basic mistakes on the ball.
“We made basic technical errors, we couldn’t build any momentum. That allowed them to do what they are good at.
“We had to show more composure, make more passes. We had to move them across the pitch which isn;t easy when you’re losing.
“We had a bit of fortune for the first goal, we scored a magnificent second goal. Defensively we were very good and we found a way to come back and win. To score three goals against St Mirren is not easy, so credit to the players.”
Gutted Saints boss Stephen Robinson said his side are still in the fight for the top six. With five games left to the split and Celtic up next he said: “The narrative when you get beats negative is always the way, mostly people that haven't seen the game and make their own story up. But I won't have any of that. They give me everything, we'll be fighting for the next five games to still try and get into the top six.
“But you have to credit Hearts. They took their chances when they came. We go again.
"We said these three games would be a bonus, anything we got out of them. And then the next four games, at the end of it, would decide whether we get the top six or not. We've got two very good performances.”