Michael Stewart gives three Hearts transfers thumbs up as 'stark difference' between Jambos and Celtic spotted
The former Hearts midfielder has been looking back on the Jambos win against Livingston.
Michael Stewart reckons Hearts showed the clear difference between them and Premiership holders Celtic - as he lauded three Jambos transfers deals.
As Wilfried Nancy’s under-fire side lost 3-1 to Rangers, Derek McInnes’ league leaders pounced with a 1-0 win against Livingston. New signing Jordi Altena started at right-back and swung in a cross for Craig Halkett to head home, moving Hearts six points clear of Celtic and Rangers.
Former Hearts midfielder Stewart was keeping an eye on the game and reckons McInnes’ side showed how they are the opposite of what Celtic have become under Nancy. On the transfer side, he feels Altena’s arrival, a pre-contract for winger Islam Chesnokov and pursuits for St Johnstone wideman Josh McPake are positive moves by Hearts.
Michael Stewart on Hearts transfer business
Stewart said: “It's full of character. We talk a lot about teams being mirror images of the manager. You look at Hearts and there's a guile about them, there's an intelligence in terms of football, and just a team full of character. It's got a really good balance.
“All the little things. We've been talking all season long about right-back, need to sort out, 1st of January and it's done. Even before that, recognised. I thought they could have done it in the summer, but they didn't, and they've managed to plug that gap to a certain extent. Potential for Josh McPake, a good addition, young Scottish player. Chesnokov, maybe, don't know, possibly, hopefully, on that right-hand side as well.
“It seems like the club has got all the ducks in a row. They've got all the important pieces in place. I think Craig Halkett's been outstanding. The spine, Lawrence Shankland, Halkett, so important to have those Scottish players in there. To answer the question, what do you like about the side, it's a side that's full of belief.
Derek McInnes on Hearts 1-0 Livingston
“To talk about Saturday, here's the stark difference and contrast between Hearts and Celtic. Hearts, outstanding in the first half, should have been four up. Nervous in the second half. What do they do? They see the game out. By hook or by crook, they defend their box. They're throwing bodies in the way and the goalkeeper is coming up with big saves. Celtic capitulate as soon as there's a bit of pressure on them in the second half. They have no character. They've got no identity, they're all over the shop, the exact polar opposite of what Hearts are.”
McInnes said post-match: "At 1-0, it's always going to be nervy. You've got to credit Livingston. As an opposition manager, David Martindale threw everything at it. In the end, the first half we looked like a team that deserved to be top of the league. I thought our keeper was magnificent because we knew there would be a reaction in the second half.
"We never quite looked settled enough. We had some moments, but we still looked a bit rushed. Sometimes one goal is enough and it was enough today. It's a good day's work for Hearts, we should remind ourselves of that. We deserved to win it because we hung in at the end, dug deep and got that clean sheet."