Hearts were left disappointed after their goalless draw with Motherwell cost them a spot in the Premiership’s top six, with St Mirren taking advantage to secure their place following a dramatic win over Ross County.
Former Hearts head coach Steven Naismith voiced his deep frustration after Neil Critchley’s side failed to capitalise at Fir Park, knowing that a win would have secured them a top-half finish. Instead, a lacklustre stalemate saw both teams unable to break the deadlock, opening the door for St Mirren to leapfrog them after edging a thrilling 3-2 victory at home.
That game looked destined to finish 2-2 after goals from Caolan Boyd-Munce and Jonah Ayunga for St Mirren were matched by Rohan Hale and Jordan White for Ross County — but a late winner from Roland Idowu clinched all three points for Stephen Robinson’s men, sealing their place in the top six at the expense of Hearts and Motherwell.
Naismith, who was dismissed earlier in the season following a poor run of results, believes Hearts’ failure to deliver in decisive moments was key to their downfall.
Speaking to BBC Sportscene, he said:
“It’s massively disappointing and personally tough to see, having been involved at the start of the season. The bare minimum for Hearts should be a top-six finish.
“The pressure and expectations at the club are high, especially after finishing third, fourth, and third in recent years. It’s a tough place to be when things aren’t going well. In tight games, you need someone to step up — Shanks (Lawrence Shankland) did that often last year. This season, it hasn’t gone that way. Kabangu has chipped in, but in crucial moments, that edge has been missing.”
“You’ve got to force the issue”
Naismith also questioned the approach both teams took at Fir Park, describing the match as too passive for what was at stake.
“The manager called it cagey, and I agree — but when you’re at a club like Hearts and you know a win gets you into the top six, you’ve got to batter the door down,” Naismith said.
“That urgency wasn’t there from either side. There were moments where Motherwell could’ve gone top six with a win too, but no one really turned up the heat. It was a slow-paced, low-energy match and neither side truly went for it when it mattered most.”
With the split now confirmed, Hearts will have to settle for a bottom-half finish — a significant blow for a club with high expectations and a recent history of challenging at the top end of the table.
