Exclusive:'It's a nonsense' - Derek McInnes hits back at 'stupid' Hearts criticism

Derek McInnes today mounted a robust defence of his Hearts team following criticism of recent results and team selections. In particular, the head coach is irked by suggestions that midfielder Oisin McEntee is not suited to the right-back role despite playing there all season for the Premiership leaders.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Motherwell leaves Hearts with one win their last five matches, however they have also lost just one of 14 league games this season. Currently top of the table and two points ahead of Celtic - who have a game in hand - the Edinburgh club face a busy week with Kilmarnock visiting Tynecastle Park on Wednesday before Sunday’s visit to Celtic Park.

McInnes was disappointed by aspects of his team’s performance against Motherwell and felt they could have shown greater attacking threat. He stressed that there is no cause for panic and defending his team selection as he explained how he saw the 90 minutes at Fir Park.

“It was the same team, other than Beni Baningime, that won at Ibrox. We got a lot right,” he said, speaking exclusively to the Edinburgh News. “We were playing a team who are heavily possession-based so we tried to get our distances right and make sure we filled the middle of the pitch, as we did at Ibrox. The difference at Ibrox was I thought we had real potency about us and connected the game well. We secured the ball well.

“In the first half on Saturday, we didn't do enough to show our attacking threat. I thought we could have switched the play around our shape a bit more, connected with our strikers, and broke with more purpose. Our attacking threat has had a lot of praise, rightly so, but it wasn't quite there on Saturday.

“We also need to try to get a bit more control in games when we are in possession. We need more authority in games to stop being a bit rushed. I think we have been a wee bit rushed in the last two games. At Aberdeen, we didn't get our clean sheet but we were the better team and created chances. At Motherwell, we get the clean sheet and worked hard for it but I think we are better than what we showed.

“We take the point, we move on. It's a point at an in-form Motherwell, who a lot of people were tipping to win. It was roughly the same in terms of possession and shots, but we don't work their goalkeeper enough. We got into some good areas. We need to get back to showing a wee bit more belief and put more crosses into the box, because that part of our game hasn't been quite there. As I say, it was the same team that played at Ibrox bar one. I just think we expected a bit more from us in an attacking sense.”

McInnes also insisted deploying McEntee at right-back makes sense. Christian Borchgrevink is pushing for a starting place in his favoured position after regaining fitness, and centre-back Michael Steinwender has also been used there. McInnes declared himself happy with McEntee’s contribution despite questions being raised in some quarters.

“Everybody has this in their head now that, all of a sudden, Oisin isn't good enough. It's a nonsense and they need to support our players a bit more,” stated McInnes. “Oisin has done fine. It's all about balance. Wide-right has been a problem for us for a while and we've spoken about that. We are a team with one defeat in 14 league games and we've had another clean sheet at the weekend. Our attacking threat doesn't become less potent because of who our right-back is. It's stupid for people to suggest that.”

Three saves from goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow were pivotal to Hearts securing a point at the weekend. The German stopped efforts from Motherwell’s Elijah Just, Lukas Fadinger and Callum Slattery during the closing stages of the game. McInnes praised his keeper, who has lost only five goals in 10 appearances since arriving in Scotland.

“I thought one in particular at the end [from Just] was a brilliant save. I think the other saves, you expect him to make,” said the manager. “The one at the end gets us a point. It was at that point when Motherwell turned the game a bit. We looked a bit more vulnerable in the last 10 or 15 minutes compared to what we've been. I don't know the reason for it, whether it was the changes or we took a step back. In that period, in the last 10 or 15 minutes, I thought Motherwell looked like they had a bit more potency about them.

“Thankfully, Alex stood up. He made a brilliant save and made himself big. I'm delighted again that he has shown himself a capable keeper, but I was quite happy for us all to be wondering how good he was. Getting back to that would be nice, but we got our clean sheet and the goalkeeper is a big part of that. The players' efforts were first-class. Raised expectations might bring raised criticisms and all the rest of it, but I think everybody needs to have a bit of perspective on where we're at.

“Just being able to say as a Hearts manager on Saturday that we had a chance to go seven points clear at the top of the league when we're going into December - our points tally has been good. We have to accept that we want to be better than what we were on Saturday, and we need to do better in certain areas of the pitch. We were up against an in-form team. We aren't quite where we were in terms of showing that real belief in attacking play, but the answers are here. We've shown we can do it and hopefully we can show that again on Wednesday.”

READ MORE: Hearts hail Alexander The Great