Tynecastle earns 'fortress' nickname from Premiership rival as Scott Brown makes Hearts prediction
Hearts have enjoyed a strong period at home on Premiership business.
A Premiership rival admits Hearts’ Tynecastle Park is proving a difficult venue for opponents to shift - as Scott Brown makes a Jambos prediction.
St Johnstone were the latest side to suffer defeat in Gorgie on Saturday during Wouter Vrancken’s side racking up their 2-1 success. The Championship title winners of 25/26 had a resurgent second half after Hearts ran rampant in the first 45, with effects of last Wednesday’s penalty shootout win away at Rapid Vienna in the Conference League taking hold.
Dundee were the last team to win a league game as an away team at Tynecastle and that was back in April 2025 prior to Neil Critchley’s sacking. Saints striker Ruari Paton - who scored his side’s goal - has labelled the home of Hearts a fierce arena others are struggling to figure out how get results in.
What has made Hearts hard to play at Tynecastle?
Paton said: “You could use disappointed, frustrated, all the cliches. We killed ourselves a bit giving away a cheap goal and then a set-piece. But the reaction was brilliant. We played a bit more front foot and their European tie helped. You could see them kind of die a little bit.
"We got the goal and I think you smell blood a bit and believe you can maybe get something out of the game. But to come to a place like this, a bit of a fortress, and be this frustrated after the game I think is probably a good emotion."
Former Celtic and Hibs midfielder Scott Brown was on Sportscene over the weekend to analyse how Hearts got on in their most recent fixture. He insists that after a second-placed finish last term, placing there again under head coach Vrancken would not surprise him, as he has been impressed by the Jambos under the Belgian so far.
What is Scott Brown’s prediction for Hearts this season?
“I like Hearts. I think they are really good and you can see the strength in depth in their squad. You could see the lads that are sitting on the bench. A lot of lads like Calvin Miller didn’t even start on Saturday. So it is brilliant for the manager how he can go and trust them rotation wise to come in.
“They still managed to win the game which is fantastic. I do see them going all the way with Celtic. I do think Celtic will win the league but I do think they will finish second.”
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