Derek McInnes: Kilmarnock won’t take Hearts lightly despite European exertions

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes warned his players it would take a 90-minute performance to beat Hearts on Sunday despite the visitors’ European exertions.

Hearts suffered a 2-0 UEFA Conference League defeat against FC Copenhagen in Denmark on Thursday and McInnes has recent experience of the effects of such a trip.

Killie suffered an identical defeat against the same opposition in the same competition in August and lost 2-0 away to Aberdeen three days later.

Hearts have collected two points from the six William Hill Premiership encounters that have immediately followed their European matches this season and Kilmarnock’s record of losing just four home games in 12 months adds to the difficult task Neil Critchley’s side face at Rugby Park.

“We played in Copenhagen this year,” McInnes said. “We came back and went to Pittodrie after it. That type of fixture can take a lot out of you.

“Obviously, at that stage of the season, we were still finding our feet. No team’s fully up to speed.

“I think Hearts or any team playing in Europe now are getting the games through their legs and a bit more game-ready.

“I’ve always found, when you’re managing a team in Europe, if you’ve got a home game after an away game, it kind of helps you. When it’s the travelling and travelling, it can be a bit of a disadvantage.

“But Hearts have got a squad for a reason. They’ve got a good squad and they’ve got plenty of bodies to choose from. I’m sure Neil won’t be using that as any reason not to be at their best on Sunday.

“I think managers look at, yes, we’ve got them after a European game. That’s just natural. You always want to play Rangers or Celtic after they’ve had a European game and they’re getting more distractions or minimum rest. That’s just the nature of it.

“But regardless if we’re getting Hearts fresh, regardless of who plays on Sunday, I know it’s Hearts turning up here on Sunday. We’ve just got to try and be the team that catches fire a wee bit for ourselves and gets a strong performance because it will need to be that.

“We beat them at Tynecastle a few weeks ago and it was a really strong second-half performance. But I actually think to beat a team of Hearts’ quality, you normally need to turn up for 90 minutes and that’s what I’m looking for from my team.”