WATCH & LEARN
I watched a full re-run of Dons match to see where I went wrong says Isma
ISMA GONCALVES admits nothing was lost in translation – he should have netted against Aberdeen in anyone’s language.
The Hearts striker was so dismayed at his failure to score the winner that he locked himself in at home and watched the action all over again on BBC Alba.
Strictly speaking, prime time Saturday night television on the Beeb is rarely given over to events on the gaelic channel.
But Portuguese frontman Goncalves was determined to learn his lessons as he bids to fire Hearts towards the upper echelons of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
He believes he’s all the better for the experience and has warned Hamilton to beware a backlash as they bid to leapfrog Martin Canning’s side in the table today.
Goncalves said: “I was disappointed not to have scored because I tried so hard. After the match I spoke to Craig Levein and Austin McPhee and they told me I did everything I could but their goalkeeper just had one of those days. He was amazing.
“I even went home on Saturday night and watched the match all over again on BBC Alba. It’s important to learn. Maybe I would have scored had I shot to the left of goal, for example, rather than the right. It helps me see things in a different way.
“I’m my own biggest critic. After games or even if I’ve trained poorly, I always look inside first and foremost and tell myself if I have not give enough. I know when I’m wrong and when I’ve performed poorly. It falls on me, always, in terms of what I can do better.
“I was a little bit down but it’s a new week. The game is in the past and we must look forward to Hamilton. I’m even more motivated because we lost two points against Aberdeen. We should have won and now we need to recover. It is a game we must win.”
Hearts haven’t enjoyed victory at Hamilton since February 2011 but Goncalves is convinced they have the wherewithal under Levein after he replaced Ian Cathro at the Tynecastle helm.
The Jambos were impressive on Levein’s return to the dugout at Murrayfield against the Dons, despite the goalless draw. The former St Mirren striker revealed Levein is reaping the rewards of a work ethic demanded from his new charges.
Goncalves said: “There has been a little bit of change, more work, it’s more physical.
“It’s good, all the players are enjoying it. I’m definitely going home more tired after training.
“When Craig came in he said we were going to work on a Monday and Tuesday, have a Wednesday off before returning to work Thursday and Friday.
“However, to be given our free day on a Wednesday we must deserve it – and he means it. So far, we have had all our Wednesdays off.
“We needed this approach because in football these days you must be fit to win games, quality is not enough.
“We can see the manager’s methods worked against a good team such as Aberdeen, the side in first place. We played as Craig wanted us to tactically and we also showed fight.
“Ian Cathro also had this mentality to win games. He was a good tactician but we didn’t have the players for this style.
“That style is not for Scotland. Here it’s tough and what Craig says is right.
“It doesn’t matter how you win, as long as you win. He has good tactics, as well as putting fight in the team.”
I’m my biggest critic. After games or even if I’ve trained poorly ISMA GONCALVES