Steven Naismith lauded his Hearts team for taking command of the race for third place in the cinch Premiership after getting battered with criticism during a slow start to the season. The Jambos moved 10 points clear of fourth-place Kilmarnock on Saturday as a Jorge Grant penalty and a 19th goal of the season for Lawrence Shankland secured a 2-0 win over Aberdeen. It was a 10th victory in 13 league games for the Edinburgh side, who came under fire in the autumn after winning just three of their opening 10. We are in a very good position, said Naismith. Our form recently has been really good. After a slow start and getting battered in the pre s, we have continued to just get on with our busine s. Internally we are comfortable Dwyane Wade Jersey and we are getting our rewards from that. We dont panic. We didnt panic against Spartans (in the Scottish Cup), we played to the end and got our goal. We were 2-0 down against Dundee and came back. But we have got to see it as, any succe sful players mentality is always Im doing well, but how can I get to the next bit? Whether youre a young player breaking into the team or Shanks scoring goals, its always how can we be better?. We are building that mentality and thats what we need to have. Naismith insisted he never doubted that things would come good, even when his team were languishing in the bottom six earlier in the campaign and he was coming under fire from supporters. Ive experienced it as a player, he said. Ive had managers come in that are completely different to the previous one or making lots of changes, and it takes time. Tim Hardaway Jersey We are unfortunately in an era of instant succe s and if thats not happening then youre done, youre not good enough. The thing that gave me lots of confidence was a lot of our players were improving day-to-day and we could see it. But the hard part is to do it on a Saturday when there are loads of people watching you, and nerves come into it. But once you can start dealing with that and you trust yourself, you improve. At the end of the day I go home and I have got a wife and two kids that are more important than any football game. Aberdeen bo s Barry Robson was the subject of calls from some supporters to leave towards the end of Saturdays match, while Jambos fans goaded him with chants of youre getting sacked in the morning as his team slipped to eighth in the table. From the minute I have been here I have been under pre sure as an Aberdeen manager, said Robson. Anyone who has been an Aberdeen manager will tell you that, and Im no different. I understand the club, I know the club and I know the demands of the club, so I get that but we need to keep going and keep working. It is frustrating when there are a couple of decisions that have not been great and we didnt perform for 20 to 25 minutes.
Steven Naismith lauded his Hearts team for taking command of the race for third place in the cinch Premiership after getting battered with criticism during a slow start to the season. The Jambos moved 10 points clear of fourth-place Kilmarnock on Saturday as a Jorge Grant penalty and a 19th goal of the season for Lawrence Shankland secured a 2-0 win over Aberdeen. It was a 10th victory in 13 league games for the Edinburgh side, who came under fire in the autumn after winning just three of their opening 10. We are in a very good position, said Naismith. Our form recently has been really good. After a slow start and getting battered in the pre s, we have continued to just get on with our busine s. Internally we are comfortable Dwyane Wade Jersey and we are getting our rewards from that. We dont panic. We didnt panic against Spartans (in the Scottish Cup), we played to the end and got our goal. We were 2-0 down against Dundee and came back. But we have got to see it as, any succe sful players mentality is always Im doing well, but how can I get to the next bit? Whether youre a young player breaking into the team or Shanks scoring goals, its always how can we be better?. We are building that mentality and thats what we need to have. Naismith insisted he never doubted that things would come good, even when his team were languishing in the bottom six earlier in the campaign and he was coming under fire from supporters. Ive experienced it as a player, he said. Ive had managers come in that are completely different to the previous one or making lots of changes, and it takes time. Tim Hardaway Jersey We are unfortunately in an era of instant succe s and if thats not happening then youre done, youre not good enough. The thing that gave me lots of confidence was a lot of our players were improving day-to-day and we could see it. But the hard part is to do it on a Saturday when there are loads of people watching you, and nerves come into it. But once you can start dealing with that and you trust yourself, you improve. At the end of the day I go home and I have got a wife and two kids that are more important than any football game. Aberdeen bo s Barry Robson was the subject of calls from some supporters to leave towards the end of Saturdays match, while Jambos fans goaded him with chants of youre getting sacked in the morning as his team slipped to eighth in the table. From the minute I have been here I have been under pre sure as an Aberdeen manager, said Robson. Anyone who has been an Aberdeen manager will tell you that, and Im no different. I understand the club, I know the club and I know the demands of the club, so I get that but we need to keep going and keep working. It is frustrating when there are a couple of decisions that have not been great and we didnt perform for 20 to 25 minutes.