Heart of Midlothian

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• Last season, all six of Heart of Midlothian's goals against Hibernian came in the second half of games, with four of those coming in the 86th minute or later. Hibs, by contrast, scored three of their four goals in this fixture in first halves.

• Hearts have only won one of their last eight away league outings (D2 L5), although that was at rivals Hibernian in April (2-1).

• Hibernian have lost each of their last four home league games, their longest run in the top-flight since August 2011 (also four), while they last lost five in a row in August 2010.

• Hibernian have lost both of their last two league games against Hearts, but haven't lost three in a row to their Edinburgh rivals in the top-flight since March 2012.

• After their 2-1 win in April, Hearts could enjoy back-to-back away league wins over Hibernian for the first time since March 2020.

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Whenever opposition fans fall over themselves to launch into a snide rendition of Joy Division's biggest hit and chant, 'Hearts are falling apart', it tends to feel a little premature.

Our rivals may have gleefully watched us lose our first four competitive games, but Hearts have since responded with back-to-back league victories, earn a favourable away draw in the League Cup quarter-final and progress to the Conference League league phase - restoring a little national pride in the coefficient along the way.

Conveniently, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' isn't the most requested song in the jukebox in Leith or Aberdeen pubs these past few weeks.

Some players and managers can spend an entire Hearts career without producing one defining memory. Yet only a couple of months in, Wouter Vrancken and several of his players already have their 'maroon moment' after the penalty shootout victory over Rapid in Vienna.

Down to 10 men, with two out-and-out wingers and a striker still on the pitch, Vrancken responded to Blair Spittal's injury by sending on attacker Rogers Mato for the 30 minutes of extra time. It was one of the boldest tactical gambles I can remember from a Hearts manager.

Thankfully, fortune favoured the brave. Hearts earned their reward at the end of a nerve-shredding shootout, with Beau Reus producing two excellent saves to swing it our way.

Calvin Miller's night in Vienna will be remembered for years. It was a talismanic display; he switched positions several times, finished the game hobbling in central midfield and scored one of the most iconic European goals in the club's history.

Six league-phase games now await, including former European heavyweights Monaco at home. Admittedly, that fixture might have been even more alluring on the Cote d'Azur, but I'm sure our visitors will appreciate the dreich Edinburgh weather in November.

The Petroclub debacle from a couple of seasons ago showed that seven points do not guarantee progression to the knockout stage. Even so, if Hearts continue on this upward trajectory under Vrancken, I fancy us to take three wins from these fixtures. And, as Benfica away demonstrated, this side does not play for stalemates.

Excluding that late collapse at Pittodrie in the opening game of the season, there's a growing confidence with supporters in this Hearts side, so much so that St Johnstone's late rally last Saturday didn't spook too many supporters inside Tynecastle as we eeked out a 2-1 win to go into third in the Scottish Premiership.

A Thursday evening Edinburgh derby will feel strange, although European commitments mean both sides are becoming accustomed to midweek football. As long as most of Easter Road is as despondent at full-time as it was after the defeat by Gent, I'll be delighted.

Hearts' recent league record at Easter Road is almost evenly divided between wins, draws and defeats. Across the past 25 meetings there, we have won eight, Hibs have won 10 and seven have ended level.

History puts our chances of victory at roughly one in three, but I have a feeling a classic is coming. Both defences look vulnerable; Hearts have conceded in eight of the past nine games and Hibs in seven of their past 10. I'm going for a 3-2 Hearts win.

European progression has restored the belief; victory at Easter Road would confirm this Hearts side is no longer falling apart, but coming together at exactly the right time.

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Sander Kartum has left Hearts by mutual consent, the club have announced.

The 30-year-old Norwegian midfielder signed for the Tynecastle outfit in January 2025 from Brann for an undisclosed fee, but struggled to break into the first team in Gorgie.

Kartum scored two goals in 17 Hearts appearances, both in a Scottish Cup victory against Dundee.

Five Hearts players are the subject of transfer interest, including striker Claudio Braga, who is valued at more than £8m by the Tynecastle club. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Hearts aim to sign 18-year-old midfielder Leart Kabashi from Grasshopper Zurich. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown expects to finish as Scottish Premiership runners-up again this season.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hearts midfielder Laurent Mendy says he is relishing experiencing his first Edinburgh derby after making his first start for the club in Saturday's 2-1 Premiership victory over St Johnstone.

The 29-year-old joined Hearts in the summer from English side Forest Green Rovers and also played a part in Thursday's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna, which secured Conference League league phase football for the Tynecastle side through to December.

Mendy says he has been warned about the significance of his first meeting with Hibernian at Tynecastle this week.

"I've been told it's going to be a massive game, bigger than Man City against Man United apparently, so yeah, I'm ready for it," he said.

"I'm going to give everything we have. I'm going to take the game as it comes. I know it's going to be a big game, so I'm going to give 110%, as I always do."

Mendy admits the demands of the past week have tested Hearts' squad, with the players having to dig deep to secure two important victories.

"It's been a tough week, it's been two tough games, but we dug deep and got the job done in both games, so well done to everyone that played a part in it," he said.

The midfielder says he has quickly settled into life at Tynecastle after arriving from Forest Green.

"I'm loving it. I'm loving the fans, I'm loving the pitch, everyone's been proper welcoming, so yeah, I hope to kick on from now.

"It's been game after game, training after training, it's been hectic, but I'm getting used to it and enjoying it at the same time."

Watch the best of the action as Hearts end their memorable week on a high by beating St Johnstone. (Available to UK users only)

Hearts fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's 2-1 win over St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Steve: Tynecastle was buzzing and off to a great start, had a good few chances and looked to overwhelm the Saints. Eventually tired, not surprisingly, but Jordi Altena is a liability, switched off for their goal. There will be bigger demands on the boys in weeks to come.

JC: Wouter Vrancken will go on to bigger things, as will some of these players. However, it's not just about one individual in the set up or squad at Hearts anymore. It's about a system that Jamestown Analytics has proven again and again. These are exciting times for Jambos.

Walter: Monumental week, would have been easy to walk off the pitch with a draw or even a defeat and blame fatigue. It wasn't pretty but three points are staying at Tynecastle. Bring on the Hibees.

Larry: This season is going to age us all, the attacking football is open and chaotic but unfortunately so is our defending. We were unlucky not to score four or five goals but also fortunate not to concede four or five, possibly the story of our season to come.

Rupert: Dreading playing a competent, attacking team as we are so poor defensively - it's just chaos at times. Players were exhausted and understandably so after Wednesday. It would be amazing to add a centre-back before the window closes but knowing us I expect another winger to join the 40 we have already.

Julie: I need to watch our defending though my fingers at times, we are so weak and it's not going to get much better so we now need to score one more than them. Clean sheets will be hen's teeth this season.

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Hearts will open the league phase of the Conference League against Denmark's Nordsjaelland at Tynecastle on Thursday, 15 October (20:00 BST).

Their first away fixture will be the following Thursday, versus Turkey's Trabzonspor (17:45).

There will be an away game in Switzerland on 5 November against Thun (17:45 GMT) and home tie with Monaco on 26 November (17:45).

Bosnian champions Borac are the opponents for Hearts' last home game of the league phase on 10 December (20:00) and Wouter Vrancken's side finish away to Pafos of Cyprus on 17 December (20:00).

Hearts were forced to show steely resolve again as they battled past St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership following their midweek European heroics.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken: "Relieved. The most important thing today is the three points. We knew for some guys, who played 120 minutes, it would be difficult.

"The way the first half was going, there was no problem. We were good in the game, but had to score more in the first half and kill the game. This is the most important thing.

"The second half way okay, but we had to fight and we felt the fatigue more. Not just physically but mentally. We had to fight together for the result.

"These weeks will come. It's a good learning process. When you play during the week in Europe and perform again two days later, it's not easy. It's good for the players to feel this and know what it brings.

"We needed [Mendy] today in midfield. He can do well there, but coming back from an injury, it's about managing his fatigue. It's good we've got some players back with important games to come.

"We know the weight of such games [against Hibs]. It's also a different style of play, so we have to be on our top game and show the quality we have - and the fighting spirit again.

"We have some days off now to recover. It's been a good week, and it's six games without a loss now."

We asked for your views on their Conference League draw after Hearts were confirmed to be playing Borac, Monaco, Nordsjaelland, Pafos, Thun and Trabzonspor.

Here's what some of you said:

Stewart: While any match is winnable, there are four out of the six where we have real chance of winning.

Steve: I think it's a decent draw for us. Can see us getting some points on the board at home and take something in Pafos. Magic number is eight from six games, should be our aim.

Jim: Could be a lot worse.

Crawford: Tranzonspor will be tough, as will Monaco. I have never heard of some of the other teams.

Ron: Good draw. Hearts v Monaco a brilliant tie, but the main thing is that there are three or four wins to be had in this list.

Teddy: As good a draw as we could have hoped for. No matches are a given at this level, but aiming for last 16 feels attainable if the team keeps progressing as it has over last few weeks.

Aron Benjaminsen will fly to Scotland on Monday to join Heart of Midlothian after the 18-year-old winger provided an assist in his final game for Vikingur as they lost 3-1 to HB Torshavn. (Trondur Arge on X, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts could hand a debut to new American striker JJ Williams (pictured).

However, Tom Renaud joins Ageu, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley on the sidelines.

And Harry Milne is a doubt.

St Johnstone's new Bosnian left-back Enes Alic could make his first club appearance.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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New Hearts striker JJ Williams says he was ready to "run through a wall" for his new team-mates after watching them secure Conference League football until Christmas in dramatic fashion.

The American watched Wednesday's penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna from his hotel room after completing his move to the Tynecastle club from Rhode Island.

The 25-year-old was particularly impressed by goalkeeper Beau Reus and Calvin Miller, who battled through cramp before scoring his penalty in the shootout.

"I watched it in my hotel room and you talk about, I felt like a kid again because I was jumping on the bed," Williams said.

"The saves that Beau made at the end, but the performance and the absolute shift that the guys put in. Calvin was cramping everywhere possible and he was still running at 120 minutes and then steps up and smashes a penalty in the back of the net.

"You talk about a performance to watch for the first game, seeing as a signed player, I was ready to run through a wall for those guys, so it was good."

Williams has been on Hearts' radar for more than a year and arrives after playing in the United States. He will go straight into the squad for Saturday's Scottish Premiership meeting with St Johnstone and is relishing the prospect of playing in front of a packed Tynecastle.

"It was giving me goosebumps while I was there in an empty stadium," he said. "So, I can't even imagine whenever it's packed. I'm super excited.

"There are ups and downs along the way. It wasn't a straight path for me to get here.

"But I can tell you, because of all those ups and downs, you want it so much more now that I've landed in this spot."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media before Hearts host St Johnstone in the Premiership on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Vrancken says Hearts have been dealt a "tough draw" in the Conference League where their opponents include Monaco and and Trabzonspor.

• He believes they have been "unlucky" in landing the top two teams from pots five and six, Nordsjaelland and Thun respectively.

• On the prospect of advancing from the league phase, Vrancken says: "I think we always have to believe in this for sure, 100%. When you start such a competition you don't start it to just participate, you start it to make something of it and making something of it is going to the next round."

• Hearts were "over the moon" at winning the play-off against Rapid Vienna and Vrancken adds: "It is every player's dream to show yourself in Europe, so for the development of the team and also as an individual it is good to be there."

• Some players are still recovering from the exertions of Wednesday night in Vienna but everyone trained on Friday and will be assessed before the St Johnstone game.

• Vrancken says it is beneficial his side are playing at Tynecastle as the fans can lift the energy in the team.

• New signing JJ Williams is available for a debut while Ageu is back in training and should be available in a few weeks. Tom Renaud will have a scan on his ankle but "it doesn't look good".

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• St Johnstone have lost 10 of their past 11 Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts, including six in a row since a 1-0 victory in December 2019.

• Hearts are on a run of eight successive home wins in the Premiership, their longest sequence at Tynecastle in the top flight since also winning eight in a row from August to December 2005.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their past 14 away games in the Premiership (D2 L11), losing their latest five in a row, including their first of this season 1-0 at St Mirren.

• Hearts have won their past 10 top-flight meetings with St Johnstone since a 2-1 defeat in February 2022.

• Since the start of last season, Hearts forward Claudio Braga has the second-most goal involvements (20 - 15 goals, 5 assists) in the Premiership behind Celtic's Benjamin Nygren (24).