Why Hearts could change system v St Mirren and right-back decision.
Heart of Midlothian will travel west to face St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday afternoon, looking to build on their strong start to the season.
A spot in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals is at stake. Under Derek McInnes, Hearts have won four group stage games and the first two games of the Scottish Premiership season without a loss.
The squad, management team, and support staff are all in a positive mood, and there is no lack of confidence. McInnes has not attempted to downplay the positive opening.
“It’s a start, but it’s a good start,” he told me. “We’re not going to downplay it. Why should we? This is a good start.
But we’re well aware that it’s easy to change a club at Hearts, so you just have to try to stay on top of it.” St Mirren, despite a mixed start to the season, pose a formidable challenge. No one who travels to Paisley will underestimate Stephen Robinson’s Buddies.
Everyone knows what to expect from St Mirren. A 5-3-2 that can be quickly converted into a 3-5-2. They are one of the league’s best teams at pressing their opponents.
Their back three resembles a wall, with industrious full-backs providing width. Their midfield three is full of energy, with the looming presence of Killian Phillips, followed by a quick and physical front pairing.
Attempting to replicate this for Hearts is more difficult, even though McInnes has only made one change between the first two league games, remaining in a 3-5-2 formation. It is critical to examine the shape before analysing the personnel questions.
McInnes played 4-4-2 at St Mirren during his previous two seasons with Kilmarnock. He has an incredible record in Paisley with four defeats in 40, albeit the most recent was a 5-1 shellacking toward the end of the season.
Hearts can certainly play with a back four, and this is a system that will likely become more prominent as the season progresses. During the week, all four wingers competed in a bounce game against Ross County.
Alexandros Kyziridis impressed, while newcomers Sabah Kerjota and Pierre Landry Kabore played significant minutes, and Alan Forrest came off the bench after starting at wing-back against Dundee.
Blair Spittal can also play in a wide role, as he did last season and occasionally this season. Then there’s the big question about right-back.
Christian Borchgrevink is out injured, and Adam Forrester has returned from his cooperation loan; he wouldn’t be able to play for St Johnstone this weekend anyway, having already played for Hearts in the league cup.
However, if McInnes goes with a back four, it is difficult to overlook Michael Steinwender. So far this season, the Austrian centre-back has demonstrated his ability in that position. He adds pace and ability to Hearts’ squad, as well as increased aerial presence.
“He’s happy to do it because the thing he’s got is he’s really mobile, really quick, really comfortable in wide areas,” McInnes told me. “Nobody will run him in that channel if he plays as an outside centre back. He’s comfortable, and he has good mobility to do that.”
(Image: Hearts Standard)
He can also play as a supporting or defensive full-back, shuffling across to create a three-man defence and allowing Harry Milne to push up.
That balance would be improved if Spittal drifted in front of Milne while Kyziridis started on the right. Cammy Devlin and Oisin McEntee give Hearts plenty of legs in the middle of the pitch.
Elsewhere, if Craig Halkett is fine after an incident during the Dundee United game, Frankie Kent will most likely be dropped to the bench. Lawrence Shankland can be partnered with a variety of options.
In terms of a back three, the right wing-back position remains unclear. Steinwender is not well suited to the role. Forrest struggled against United, so Forrester is more likely to enter the picture.
With Steinwender playing ahead of Kent on the right side of a back three and Forrest at wing-back, McInnes could easily switch to a 4-4-2 without making a substitution.
If it is a back three, there is a case for going with a front three instead of a front two. As previously stated, McEntee and Devlin provide plenty of snap and energy in the middle of the pitch.
A third addition would most likely be more comfortable for St Mirren, as it could mean more possession in front of them. A front three of Shankland, flanked by Claudio Braga and Kabore, asks far more questions. You’ve got pace, physicality, work rate, and a focal point.
It may make it easier and more effective to stretch the St Mirren back line, including taking advantage of space behind the wing-backs.
(Image: Hearts Standard)
McInnes has spoken about Kabore playing in a front three, where he would naturally cut in from the left.
Braga prefers the left-hand space, where he can drift and combine with Milne. Despite the right-side issue, McInnes has plenty of good options. And making the decision is not easy, nor is second-guessing it.
Fans have also discussed the goalkeeping situation. Personally, I don’t believe there is any reason to drop Zander Clark.
He had a poor match. It could have been expensive, but it was not. I believe it would be harsh to dismiss him after just one performance.
He’s only a few games into the season and has had to deal with an injury during some of the preseason. It becomes a more pressing issue if the errors or unease persist across a series of games.
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