3 days ago
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The Jam Tarts on top
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Hearts kept top spot in the Scottish Premiership in dramatic fashion this weekend. In a feisty Edinburgh Derby that looked destined to see the Tynecastle side share the points with cross-city rivals Hibernian, a dramatic winner came in the dying moments of the game from central defender Craig Halkett. In the first minute of added time, the 30-year-old defender latched on to a cross from Sabah Kerjota with an outstretched leg and fired the ball into the opposite corner of the net. Not only had Hearts won one of the fiercest derbies in Scottish football, but also kept their remarkable start to the season going.
Saturday’s win over Hibs now means that Derek McInnes’ side have dropped just two points from their first seven league games of the Scottish Premiership campaign. And, when we extend their form to all competitions, it works out at a record of just one defeat in 12 games - which was technically a draw, then defeat on penalties to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup - which has seen the Edinburgh club sitting top of the Scottish top-flight in four of the opening seven matchdays. And while McInnes and his backroom staff deserve immense credit for that, they may wish to offer special thanks to the club’s summer recruits.
Indeed, Hearts raised a number of eyebrows this summer when Brighton owner Tony Bloom bought a €11.3 million stake in the Edinburgh club and declared that he intended to "disrupt the pattern of domination which has been in place for far too long" in Scottish football. And while Hearts may have only spent just under €3m on new players this summer, they brought in no less than 10 new players and many of them have been integral to McInnes’ side climbing to the top of the Premiership table.
For example, the aformentioned new right winger Kerjota already has one very important assist to his name, €520k signing Cláudio Braga has so far bagged four goals and assists up front and left winger Alexandros Kyziridis has impressively far scored two goals and provided a further three assists in his first seven league games of the season. Between all of Hearts’ new signings, their total goals amount to no less than 50% of the goals Hearts’ entire team have scored in the league this season. Only three clubs - Aberdeen, Dundee and Celtic - have seen a greater proportion of their goals scored by new signings in the Premiership so far. And that’s before the club’s new record signing - Ageu, who signed from Santa Clara for €2m in the summer - has returned from a hamstring injury and gets to show his worth as a playmaker.
Of course, it isn’t just in attack that Hearts’ new recruits have improved McInnes’ team. Whether it be Oisin McEntee at right-back, Alexander Schwolow between the posts or on-loan central defender Stuart Findlay, Hearts’ impressive defensive record of just six goals conceded in seven games - the second best defensive record in the league this season - has been largely helped by some smart summer signings.
Whether Hearts can go all the way remains to be seen. Before fans can start dreaming of a first league title since 1960, McInnes’ side will have to show the extent of their ambitions by beating an impressive Kilmarnock side in Ayrshire after the international break, before facing reigning champions Celtic at Tynecastle at the end of October. But for now, few in Scottish football could deny that Hearts have improved dramatically this summer and it may just be the start of Blooms’ bigger plans for the club in the Scottish top-flight.
