Naismith: Jam Tarts need a little patience
Steven Naismith knows all about playing for teams that strike fear into opponents. Now he reckons high-flying Hearts must master that art–and fast.
The table-topping Jam Tarts failed to break down a Livingston side that sat deep for 90 minutes at Tynecastle.
Naismith reckons they won’t be the last Gorgie visitors to play it safe. So the only way Hearts will hang on at the top of the Premiership is if they learn to play with patience.
“I think we have to get used to teams sitting in,” he said.
“That comes with the start we have had.
“It is probably one of the most difficult things as a footballer to do – trust what the game plan is and stick to it.
“If you think you see a better option you might think it’s better, but it isn’t better for what we’re trying to carry out.
“Effectively, that’s where we weren’t good enough today.
“We didn’t keep good enough possession. We weren’t relentless with our pressure and our chances.
“We maybe had one chance that came to the edge of the box and somebody was shooting or somebody was playing an eye-of-a-needle pass when it wasn’t on. “These are the wee things that you have to learn to cope with when you are a good team.”
To Livingston’s credit, Hearts are not the first team that have struggled against them this season.
In fact, since losing to Celtic on opening day, they have gone unbeaten in the league, conceding only one goal along the way.
Hearts – and Naismith – had a golden chance to notch against them from the spot.
But Livi keeper Liam Kelly made a stop that kept his side’s incredible run going.
Naismith said: “It’s slightly frustrating, but I am more disappointed in our own performance.
“If we had played really well and drawn it then fair enough. “We knew it was going to be a tight game, but I think we played our part in not getting the three points with our performance really.
“The penalty miss just adds to it.
“Obviously, after having such a bad 45 minutes it would have made life easier if I could have put that away. But that’s football.”
Naismith’s take is a cliché – but it’s true enough.
And besides, the fact that Hearts remain at the top of the Premiership offers plenty of comfort.
“We haven’t been too high from the start to the season and we won’t get too low after this,” he said.