Toby claims tide is turning at Tynecastle
TOBY SIBBICK believes Hearts are a completely different team to the one that lost to St Mirren at Tynecastle last month — and cost manager Robbie Neilson his job. That was also the day Aberdeen leapfrogged Hearts into third place, where they have remained ever since. As the teams prepare to reunite in Paisley today, Sibbick insists that all the negativity around the side has evaporated since Steven Naismith took interim charge.
A 6-1 thrashing of Ross County was bookended by defeats to Hibs and Celtic, but the 23-year-old defender senses a change in the air. ‘Everyone is more uplifted and positive,’ said Sibbick, with the Gorgie men trailing the Dons by five points, one ahead of Hibs and two in front of today’s hosts with four games left. ‘Obviously, when things are tough, everyone can be a bit negative and stuff like that but, since Naisy has come in, he only wants positivity. ‘He’s been encouraging us, having individual meetings with players, trying to get to know us a bit more. That’s helped us a lot. ‘He told me he could be a moaner from his time as a player, but he doesn’t do it to get on to people. He does it because he wants the best for them.’ The ex-Wimbledon and Barnsley man admits Neilson’s last game in charge was a low point.
He added: ‘The boys were talking in the dressing room about how, in football, nothing is ever perfect. ‘You go through those spells when you lose games and nothing is really going your way. ‘We had a chat and we knew ultimately it is down to us. ‘The manager can set you up but the players have to deliver. We hadn’t been delivering and, unfortunately, it cost him his job. ‘Now we have Naisy in and it is time for us to put things right.’