The Scotsman

Canning won’t press panic button

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Hearts captain Christophe Berra has promised the club’s fans they will see a more purposeful and cohesive team next season.

The Gorgie side’s current campaign is drifting to a tame end with yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox leaving them nine points behind fifth-placed Kilmarnock in the Premiershi­p with just four games remaining.

Berra, who has been Hearts’ stand-out performer this season, scored to give them some hope after Jason Cummings and Daniel Candeias had put Rangers in control.

But the Scotland internatio­nal defender feels Hearts’ position in the post-split top six, which has left them with nothing meaningful to play for, is 0 Hearts skipper Christophe Berra stands up to Candeias. down to the lack of a clearly defined strategy in their performanc­es.

“If we were a little bit closer, we would have more confidence as a team but we don’t have a set way of playing yet,” said Berra.

“That’s something we are working on and, come next season, I’m sure we will be a lot stronger. We will have an identity. We are working on it now.

“There was a lot made of this game because of what happened to Rangers in the cup semi-final against Celtic last week but they are no mugs. They still have a lot to play for. They are top scorers in the league which says a lot.”

Hearts manager Craig Levein felt his team passed up a good opportunit­y to address their poor record at Ibrox.

“None of us are feeling particular­ly positive right now,” said Levein.

“I thought we could have won the game today. I didn’t feel Rangers were at their best. We assisted them on many occasion by just coughing up possession of the ball too easily.

“Yeah, they had a lot of chances near the end but they always do here at Ibrox. Overall, it’s a feeling of disappoint­ment.”

PARTICK THISTLE

Doolan 64, Edwards 72

HAMILTON ACCIES

Templeton 43

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Hamilton boss Martin Canning was not too downcast despite seeing his side slip closer to the bottom two with defeat to Partick Thistle.

Accies let a one-goal lead slip and ended up on the wrong side of a 2-1 defeat that sees them fall to tenth in the Premiershi­p. Thistle’s win means they climb above Ross County to 11th place and closes the gap on Hamilton to just two points.

But with County to play next week, Canning knows his side are still in a good position to secure safety. “It’s such a tight league and there doesn’t need to be a lot between anyone for results to go for or against you, and that’s what happened,” he said. “But we are still in a position where it’s in our own hands.”

David Templeton opened the scoring for Accies against the run of play on an afternoon that saw pre-match tributes to former manager of both clubs John Lambie. Thistle came out in the second half with renewed vigour and produced an eightminut­e turnaround that could change their fortunes this season.

Goals from Kris Doolan and Ryan Edwards secured a vital three points and a first win since late January that increases optimism that they may just escape relegation.

Manager Alan Archibald said: He said: “We know something has to give in the other games. We go to Perth next week and the other two are playing each other.”

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