Hearts ‘had words’ as Derek McInnes not happy despite 12 goals in three Premier Sports Cup games
Hearts ‘had words’ as Derek McInnes not happy despite 12 goals in three Premier Sports Cup games.
The Edinburgh club must meet high standards for the 2025/26 SPFL Premiership.
Anyone who thinks Derek McInnes is jovial as Hearts advance to the Premier Sports Cup knockout stage does not know the new Tynecastle manager.
His team has scored 12 goals in three wins over lower-league opponents while conceding only one. There are many positives, but McInnes continues to demand higher standards from his players.
Words were exchanged in the away dressing room at Forthbank on Saturday night, despite Hearts’ 4-0 victory over League Two Stirling Albion.
Before half-time, the visitors led 3-0 thanks to goals from defender Craig Halkett, forward Claudio Braga, and debutant winger Alexandros Kyziridis. Halkett added a fourth in the second half, but McInnes was not completely satisfied at the end.
“The manager has been critical of us. We won 4-0, and you’d think the changing room would be packed, but it wasn’t,” Halkett admitted.
“We had words because we knew it wasn’t good enough at certain points in the game and that it could improve.
We were sluggish, forcing passes and not moving fast enough, and we knew it even before he told us. “That’s good; it’s refreshing because you don’t want someone constantly telling you how brilliant you are. Everyone understands that this team must maintain high standards.
You have to accept it and strive to improve. It’s not unusual; even if he hadn’t said anything and had left it up to the boys, we’d have said it among ourselves. It’s a collective of people demanding more from one another.
“The manager has high standards. Back before he even arrived for preseason, when he spoke with people on the phone, he made it clear that the standards were not met last season.
It wasn’t good enough, so everyone knew we needed to lift it before returning. That is why Hearts is in that position, so it has been all about standards and getting this club back to where it should be since the beginning.”
McInnes, aware of Hearts’ seventh-place finish last season before being lured to Edinburgh from Kilmarnock, wants to build real momentum ahead of this season’s Premiership opener against Aberdeen in two weeks.
His desire for more does not imply that victories over Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical, and Stirling have not been positive. Indeed, a win over Dumbarton on Wednesday should secure Hearts a seeding in the Premier Sports Cup knockout rounds. “It was good, we have started the season really well,” Halkett admitted. “Three wins, 12 goals scored, and one conceded. We were disappointed to lose to Dunfermline, but it was a good start, and I believe we can improve further. It was a little sloppy at times against Stirling, but we’re getting the wins, which is important.
Hearts goals ahead of the Scottish Premiership kick-off against Aberdeen.
“I believe we’ve made progress from game to game, as the manager has discussed. He has stated that no one can be perfect this early in the season, but that these games are not pre-season friendlies for us.
We want to win, and thankfully we do. Everyone knows we can improve, and I believe we are, but there is still much more to do. A lot of people are getting a lot of minutes in these games, and the manager has told everyone that when their turn comes, they must do everything they can to prove they deserve their position.
When we play, you can tell that everyone is giving their all, and some people may be pushing themselves too hard at times.
We have a large squad, and everyone has to compete for the jerseys.” Halkett’s header appeared to cross the line for Hearts’ fourth goal, but his defensive teammate Stuart Findlay arrived to confirm.
“They told me after the game that the linesman thought it was over the line so it was my goal,” Halkett said with a giggle.
“Two in a game, which is great, but as a defender the clean sheet means just as much.” The last time I scored twice in a single match was in the League Cup against Stenhousemuir during my first year at Hearts, when I went up front for the final 10 minutes.
I was a striker in my early Rangers career before being moved back. It’s good that those instincts still exist.”
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