Derek McInnes: I’m delighted where Hearts are in Premiership table

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes insists they are comfortable with their position on the William Hill Premiership summit as the title race heats up.

The surprise leaders remain three points ahead of Rangers with a game in hand but competition looks to be strong.

Rangers have only lost one league game, against Hearts, since Danny Rohl took over in October, and have cut the gap significantly.

Celtic collapsed under Wilfried Nancy with four league defeats in a month after drawing level on points with Hearts under Martin O’Neill, but the return of the 73-year-old has enhanced their chances.

“I’m just delighted where we are in the league,” said McInnes ahead of Sunday’s trip to Dundee. “I’m delighted with what the players have given us.

“I’d rather be in it than watching from the outside looking on. I just want us to be relevant, I said that when we came in, in the summer. I want us to meet the expectations of the support here and in time exceed those expectations.

“Now we’re probably exceeding where we are at the minute but we’re comfortable with it. I don’t think there’s anybody at Hearts uncomfortable with where we are and that’s exactly where we want to be.

“We’ve been top of the league now for over three months. The back end of September, went top of the league. This isn’t just a little run of form, it isn’t just a little spell, it’s something more than that, something substantial there.

“And the test for us now is to try and build on it, because if we just stand still and if we just make do and be pleased with our work up until now, we’re not going to get the outcome that we want. To keep improving is key for us.”

Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley is looking to lead his Dundee team to a fourth consecutive victory when McInnes and his players line up at Dens Park.

And the Hearts boss knows that every game is going to be a major challenge after edging to a 1-0 win against a spirited Livingston side last weekend.

“We had 12 wins and 2 defeats in the first half of the season,” he said. “We started the second half of the season with a win on Saturday but Saturday illustrates exactly, top vs bottom, it was up until the 95th minute and when the referee blew his whistle that we could take a breath and win the game.

“Every game’s a challenge but we take confidence that we know that every time we play a team, they ain’t going to get it easy and we’re in a fight.

“Hopefully we can win more than we don’t and we just want to get on that final straight in a strong position.”