Neil Critchley hopes for Hearts takeoff at last as boss sets sights on sinking Aberdeen
The Jambos’ road victory at Tannadice was greatly needed.
Neil Critchley hopes that after Hearts won back-to-back games for the first time, their season will finally take off.
James Penrice’s goal gave the Jambos back-to-back wins as they defeated United 1-0 at Tannadice and Motherwell at home. The boss thinks that his club is looking up rather than down after the Gorgies won two straight Premiership games for the first time since April.
“Yeah, crucial,” the Englishman conceded. The players received that word prior to the game: “This is the first time we’ve won back-to-back in the league this season, and that gives us a good big lift.” Winning here was especially encouraging because we haven’t performed well away from home this season.
“We’ve won both of our games by a score of 1-0, which is fantastic with clean sheets and nicking a good goal, which Penners did.” It should be three victories, but I must quit talking about the Ross County game since it continues to give me nightmares.
Hearts are only four points outside the top six and eight points ahead of stranded St Johnstone, while still being in second place.”All we need to do is continue to perform as we did today, and the results will take care of themselves,” said Critchley.
As you mentioned, we’ve had a few significant victories, but don’t get too excited when you win or too depressed when you lose. I know the league is quite close and crowded from ourselves up to maybe six. Next week, we travel to Aberdeen, and it will undoubtedly be another difficult match.
Despite the setback, United is still in third position with just two losses in their last eleven games. Although they have just brought in a former St Johnstone double cup winner and a loan from one of Tony Bloom’s other sides thus far, the Jamestown Analytics has already begun working on Hearts’ January computer.
While Jamie McCart had arrived from Rotherham, Elton Kabangu of Union Saint-Gilloise had joined on loan while they were still awaiting a work permit.
Fans of the Hearts would have anticipated more glitzy or striking arrivals. Getting results to leave a part of the league where they should never have been was more important to them.
After a tie with Ross County and a victory over Motherwell, they went to Tannadice. United, on the other hand, was a team that was playing well. They were in third position with just a small portion of the Jambos’ spending power and had only lost one of their last ten games.
At Tannadice, Hearts had a greater chance. Holt made a quick clearance to prevent Musa from tapping in after Blair Spittal smashed a free kick off the bar from 25 yards out.
Before United could relax, Hearts scored a goal when Goodwin attempted to make another double change. Boyce had a fresh air swipe after Spittal’s cross from the right, and Forest headed it back to Penrice, who hammered it high beyond Walton from about 14 yards away. Critchley was unaware of how his goal hero was affected by the fair thump.
“I’ve stated many times that I believe he’s been excellent,” he remarked. I adore his style of football play. He has a fantastic mindset, in my opinion. He plays with genuine drive and enthusiasm, and he wants to learn and improve.
He scored the game-winning goal after putting in a lot of crosses from excellent positions in the first half. I don’t know how he ended up there. I’m not sure how Penners got into the box, but I know Spitz has crossed it. It was a fantastic strike that he and the team earned, but I’ll have to watch it happen again.
