Hearts boss Neil Critchley confident ahead of ‘crescendo’ games before the split

Hearts boss Neil Critchley is confident going into the “crescendo” of the final pre-split fixtures this weekend where the top and bottom six of the William Hill Premiership will be decided.

The Jambos are in pole position going into the game against top-six rivals Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.

Hearts have 39 points – one more than the Steelmen – but St Mirren are also on 38 points and could leapfrog the Jambos and Motherwell if the result in Lanarkshire goes their way and they beat Ross County, which means the Tynecastle side could be fighting for a European spot through their league position or possibly fighting to avoid relegation.

“Obviously because of the situation and how tight the league is, the full focus from everybody is on the top six or the split, because it’s the last game before that happens,” said Critchley.

“You’ve got to remember there’s another five games to go after that so it’s not like the end of the season.

“It sort of feels like that because it’s coming to a bit of a crescendo if you like, this weekend.

“So it’s an exciting game, an important game, our preparations have been the same as it’s always been and we’re going there to try and play how we can play the game, like we did last weekend against Dundee United (lost 1-0), in my opinion.

“And if we can play to a similar level with a little bit of extra, quality and intelligence in front of the goal, then I’m sure we’ll get the result that we need.

“We have that one game, it’s in our hands.

“We know what we have to do and if we do that, then we can look forward to some important big games at the end of the season, which is where we all want to be competing every single season.”

Critchley revealed that Hearts, who signed Norwegian right-back and Valerenga captain Christian Borchgrevink for next season, would not be taking up their option to buy Gerald Taylor, the on-loan Costa Rica international defender from Deportivo Saprissa, who is currently out with a knee problem.

Borchgrevink will joust with Adam Forrester for the right-back position next season, with no room for the luckless Taylor, who has been out since March.

Critchley said: “Christian is someone who’s obviously we’ve been analysing and assessing for quite a period of time.

“We want a competitive squad and we want to try and always improve the team and we think Christian at the age of 25, has got his best years in front of him.

“He is captain of a big club Valarenga, he’s got obvious leadership qualities and he’s the right type of character we want to bring to this football club, as well as his ability.

“We won’t be taking up Gerald’s option at the end of this season. He’s still with us now. He’ll still hopefully be able to play between now and the end of the season.”