UCHE URGES HIS TEAM-MATES TO FIND A WINNING FORMULA FAST
UCHE IKPEAZU wants Hearts to find the win on Wednesday night that will turn their season around.
Craig Levein’s men are in ninth place but only one point ahead of midweek hosts St Johnstone at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
‘It’s too early in the season to be making predictions but I don’t think we’ll be down at the bottom of the table and it’s up to the players to make sure of that,’ stressed the English striker. ‘I think we’re definitely just one game win away from going on a good run.’
Ikpeazu came closest to breaking the deadlock but was foiled by a splendid Matija Sarkic save in a one-on-one late in the first half.
The visitors then failed to capitalise on Aymen Souda’s red card early in the second period.
Ikpeazu said: ‘We should win the game, especially when you’re playing against 10 men. They were camped in and when you get a chance you have to take it.
‘I did the right thing with the chance. The keeper made a good save. I made a decision and I know I should have scored.
Hearts boast only one victory in 10 league games, their late comeback win over fellow strugglers Hibs in September. Manager Levein was at pains to reflect on a point against 10 men as a positive in the wake of their draw against Rangers last week.
‘I’m frustrated,’ he said. ‘I asked them to be really competitive and I got that. They worked extremely hard and played well as a team. But we took 15 minutes to adjust once Livingston went down to 10 men.
‘Once we did that, I felt we controlled the rest of the match. It was mainly our decision-making. There were opportunities to cut the ball back and we’ve decided to shoot or blast the ball across goal.
‘We missed a little at the top end of the pitch. Ryo (Meshino) wasn’t at his best but he’s felt ill and I had to take him off. I thought Uche played well but just didn’t get an opportunity to score.
‘I thought 11 versus 11 we were still the better side and had an opportunity to win. The red card did unsettle us initially but if the game had gone on another 15 minutes I think we would have won. And one goal would have been enough.’