IT WILL END IN TOP TEARS IF WE DON’T SHARPEN UP
Halliday admits Jambos have to find more consistency and class if they want to compete in Premiership next term
ANDY HALLIDAY knows Hearts are head and shoulders above the rest of the Championship – but will need to improve if they are going to take the Premiership by
the scruff of the neck.
The midfielder stooped to head Robbie Neilson’s side in front against Dundee before Armand Gnanduillet got a break for their second. Jason Cummings’ penalty halved the deficit and the Jambos had to hold on for the final 20 minutes in Gorgie. Peter Haring’s stoppage-time straight red card soon after coming on didn’t help. But they stood firm to deny Dee and open up a 15-point gap at the summit after three straight draws. It has been all about next season for a while now and while Halliday believes the quality is there, the consistency has to accompany it when they’re back among the big boys. He said: “We need to improve with the individuals we’ve got here because the squad’s good enough. “But I don’t think we’ve found that consistent level we had in the first 10, 15 games of the season. “We won 13 out of the first 15 but I don’t think we’ve hit the same heights. There’s been a lull, which the majority of teams have had. “Whether that’s down to the lack of fans, I’m not too sure. But we’ve got enough experienced players within the squad to make sure that doesn’t happen and we’ve let it happen too often.
“We haven’t been at our very, very best since except Raith away and the Scottish Cup Final.
“We’ve done what good teams do and won when we’ve not played well.
“But we haven’t played well for long enough. The first hour on Saturday, the intensity was a lot better.
“Looking at the chances we’ve had, we should have scored more goals.
“But it’s a bonus because we haven’t been creating enough chances and had lapses at the back.
“I do feel we’ve got the quality in the squad to go up next season and compete – but we need to improve.”
Halliday grabbed his third goal of the season 10 minutes before the break and admits he hasn’t been on the scoresheet as much as he’d like.
He added: “I’ve joked with the boys before that I’ve always felt I was quite good in the air. But I’d only scored one header in my career, so it was good to get my second. It was a great ball from Armand.
“I’m disappointed in the number of goals I’ve scored this season. I feel as if I’ve got in some good positions over the last few weeks. I keep saying to the boys, ‘The cutback ball, the cutback ball!’ because when you play these teams and get wide, defenders naturally sink into their six-yard box.
“That cutback I’ve been screaming for the last few weeks eventually came from big Armand. If I’d missed that, I’d have taken some stick!”
Halliday made no mistake when connecting with Gnanduillet’s cross from the right to beat Jack Hamilton.
Paul McGowan sent a fine dipping volley off the bar that Paul McMullan then headed over as James McPake’s side spurned two chances to level.
It wasn’t as bad as Gary MackaySteven’s second-half miss when he sent a weak effort into Hamilton’s arms with the goal gaping.
Liam Boyce then rattled the bar and you wondered if Hearts were going to be punished for it.
Gnanduillet got the luck that deserted his strike partner when his initial shot from Mackay-Steven’s cross came back off Hamilton, hit him and bounced into the net.
That looked to be that but Mihai Popescu fouled Max Anderson to allow the up till then anonymous Cummings to net from 12 yards.
A brilliant double block from Craig Gordon late on sealed the points for Hearts as sub Haring walked for a studs-up lunge on Declan McDaid.
Halliday added: “The big man puts himself about and I love that about him. He’s maybe just trying to put a marker down and make a tackle to slow the game down.”