Archive November 1, 2025

Perhaps Hearts’ CEO Andrew McKinlay was right when he blatantly declared “we will win the league” before Dundee’s visit with four more goals, three more points, and nine points clear of the Scottish Premiership.

The Tynecastle side are strengthening their credentials with each game as they strive to break the Old Firm’s title duopoly, though he did make the claim that it might not be this season rather one more in the future.

Head coach Derek McInnes was more reserved when he said it was “a good reference point” to complete a quarter of the league season in such a positive position.

Hearts’ victory on Wednesday on their way to Paisley made it possible for Celtic to close the gap to six.

However, his team extended their lead with a 4-0 victory over Dundee as the reigning champions were out on League Cup duty this weekend.

And McInnes acknowledged that, if we had won today, the St. Mirren point would be brilliant and significant.

Can we be above Celtic before we play them, we asked players a few weeks ago. ‘. Can we then become the league’s top team after the opening round of games? ‘.

The first eleven games featured heart-pounding statistics.

McInnes’ side are one win away from reaching the milestone that they did at the start of the 2005-2006 campaign with 29 points, but they do not currently have a megalomaniac owner ready to fire the manager.

Hearts is the division’s only unbeaten side in their last 15 Premiership games, which is their longest unbeaten streak in more than ten years.

No side has let them score, and they have at least once in each of those 15 games, which is their best run in a decade.

A striker is reborn in Lawrence Shankland. The Scotland international won seven Premiership titles in his third game against Dundee, propelling him to the top of the charts. His overall ranking of 10 already surpasses that of the previous season.

The team also completed 610 passes on Saturday, which is their highest total in a league game this season, with midfielder Cammy Devlin completing 109 passes, which is the team’s highest total this season.

Although everything appears to be moving in the right direction, McInnes claimed that the squad is “getting stronger” and that “we feel there is a little more in us.”

The bedrock for many of our results has been the clean sheets, he continued, “We have good wide players, we have midfielders who control the game.”

“We don’t always find that balance, but we do seem to find it.”

By allowing injury niggles to plague new cult hero forward Claudio Braga and established defenders Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley, McInnes acknowledged that “we took a bit of a risk.”

However, the fact that Braga’s replacement, Pierre Landry Kabore, scored the team’s first two Hearts goals, another indication of how strong the squad is, helped by their summer collaboration with Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics team.

It’s no wonder McKinlay spoke to BBC 5 Live in such a hushed manner before the kickoff.

The chief executive declared, “It’s dreamland and we’re enjoying it.” The two large teams that dominate in Scottish football are criticized, and there has only been one dominant team in the last ten years.

It’s fantastic for Scottish football, but Hearts is also fantastic. Let’s make the most of it because we were bottom of the league last year and are now at the top.

With interim leadership from Martin O’Neill and the multi-trophy champion playing in hand, Celtic have a game in hand. Rangers, 14 points adrift in fourth place, will hope for a revival under Danny Rohl, their new head coach.

McKinlay, however, is encouraged by Bloom’s influence in Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise and Brighton.

We can keep going because we’re not just here for a short while, he continued. When we consider how the analytics has worked well at other clubs, Tony has a lot of belief.

“We genuinely believe that this opportunity is fantastic.” Although I’m not saying that we’ll win the league this year, this is not our only chance, though.

We think we’re doing something really good here, and we anticipate that as the seasons progress.

We’re confident that Champions League music will be playing here at some point because USG were almost relegated from the second tier and won the [Belgian] league within seven years.

Four more goals, three more points and now nine clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership – perhaps Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay was right when he blithely said “we will win the league” before Dundee’s visit.

He did qualify that claim by stating it might not be this season – rather one further in the future – but, with every game that goes by, the Tynecastle side are enhancing their credentials to break the Old Firm’s title duopoly.

Head coach Derek McInnes was more reserved, simply stating that completing a quarter of the league season in such a healthy position was “a good reference point”.

Hearts were fortunate to escape Paisley with a point on Wednesday, a result which allowed Celtic to narrow the gap to six.

But his side took advantage of the reigning champions being on League Cup duty this weekend to extend their lead with a 4-0 win over Dundee.

And McInnes admitted: “We said the point at St Mirren would be a brilliant and important point if we won today – and that’s the way it has been.

“A few weeks ago, we set a challenge to players, ‘can we be above Celtic before we play them?’. And then ‘can we be top of the league after the first round of fixtures?’.

Hearts’ statistics in those first 11 games are impressive.

With 29 points, McInnes’ side are one win away from equalling the tally they achieved after 12 games under George Burley at the start of the 2005-06 campaign – and this time they do not have a megalomaniac owner poised to sack the manager.

Hearts are undefeated in their last 15 Premiership games – their longest unbeaten streak for more than 10 years – and the division’s only unbeaten side.

They have scored at least once in all 15 of those games – also their best run a decade – and no side has prevented them from scoring.

In Lawrence Shankland, they have a striker reborn. The Scotland international’s opener against Dundee – his third in as many games – took him to the top of the Premiership charts with seven. His 10 overall has already surpassed last season’s tally.

Hearts also made 610 passes on Saturday, their highest total in a league game this term, with midfielder Cammy Devlin attempting 109 – the highest total by a player in the team this term.

Everything sounds like it is moving in the right direction, but McInnes insisted the squad is “getting stronger” and “we feel there is a bit more in us”.

“We’ve got good wide players, we’ve got midfielders who control the game, and the bedrock for a lot of our results has been the clean sheets,” he added.

“Trying to get that balance is not always easy, but we seem to be finding it.”

McInnes admitted “we took a bit of a risk” by dropping new cult-hero forward Claudio Braga and in-form defenders Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley with injury niggles.

However, the fact Braga’s replacement, Pierre Landry Kabore, repaid the managers’ faith with his first two Hearts goals was another indication of the strength of a squad bolstered by their summer tie-in with Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics company.

No wonder McKinlay was so bullish when talking to BBC 5 Live before kick-off.

“It’s dreamland and we’re enjoying it,” said the chief executive. “Scottish football gets criticised for having the two big teams dominating, and in the last decade maybe just one team dominating.

“It’s brilliant for Scottish football, but it’s brilliant for Hearts. This time last year, we were bottom of the league and here we are at the top, so let’s make the most of it.”

Celtic have a game in hand and multi-trophy winning Martin O’Neill back in interim charge. Rangers, 14 points adrift in fourth place, will hope for a revival too under new head coach Danny Rohl.

However, McKinlay takes heart from Bloom’s influence at Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

“We’re confident we’re not just here for a short period and we can keep it going,” he added. “Tony has brought a great deal of belief, when we look at how the analytics has been successful at other clubs.

“We genuinely believe that we’ve got a great opportunity. Now, I’m not saying we’re going to win the league this year, but if we don’t, this is not our one and only chance.

“We’ve got something really good going here and we believe we’ll get better and better as the seasons go on.

“USG were almost relegated from the second tier and, within seven years, won the [Belgian] league and are now playing in the Champions League, so we’re confident that at some point we will have Champions League music playing here.

Four more goals, three more points and now nine clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership – perhaps Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay was right when he blithely said “we will win the league” before Dundee’s visit.

He did qualify that claim by stating it might not be this season – rather one further in the future – but, with every game that goes by, the Tynecastle side are enhancing their credentials to break the Old Firm’s title duopoly.

Head coach Derek McInnes was more reserved, simply stating that completing a quarter of the league season in such a healthy position was “a good reference point”.

Hearts were fortunate to escape Paisley with a point on Wednesday, a result which allowed Celtic to narrow the gap to six.

But his side took advantage of the reigning champions being on League Cup duty this weekend to extend their lead with a 4-0 win over Dundee.

And McInnes admitted: “We said the point at St Mirren would be a brilliant and important point if we won today – and that’s the way it has been.

“A few weeks ago, we set a challenge to players, ‘can we be above Celtic before we play them?’. And then ‘can we be top of the league after the first round of fixtures?’.

Hearts’ statistics in those first 11 games are impressive.

With 29 points, McInnes’ side are one win away from equalling the tally they achieved after 12 games under George Burley at the start of the 2005-06 campaign – and this time they do not have a megalomaniac owner poised to sack the manager.

Hearts are undefeated in their last 15 Premiership games – their longest unbeaten streak for more than 10 years – and the division’s only unbeaten side.

They have scored at least once in all 15 of those games – also their best run a decade – and no side has prevented them from scoring.

In Lawrence Shankland, they have a striker reborn. The Scotland international’s opener against Dundee – his third in as many games – took him to the top of the Premiership charts with seven. His 10 overall has already surpassed last season’s tally.

Hearts also made 610 passes on Saturday, their highest total in a league game this term, with midfielder Cammy Devlin attempting 109 – the highest total by a player in the team this term.

Everything sounds like it is moving in the right direction, but McInnes insisted the squad is “getting stronger” and “we feel there is a bit more in us”.

“We’ve got good wide players, we’ve got midfielders who control the game, and the bedrock for a lot of our results has been the clean sheets,” he added.

“Trying to get that balance is not always easy, but we seem to be finding it.”

McInnes admitted “we took a bit of a risk” by dropping new cult-hero forward Claudio Braga and in-form defenders Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley with injury niggles.

However, the fact Braga’s replacement, Pierre Landry Kabore, repaid the managers’ faith with his first two Hearts goals was another indication of the strength of a squad bolstered by their summer tie-in with Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics company.

No wonder McKinlay was so bullish when talking to BBC 5 Live before kick-off.

“It’s dreamland and we’re enjoying it,” said the chief executive. “Scottish football gets criticised for having the two big teams dominating, and in the last decade maybe just one team dominating.

“It’s brilliant for Scottish football, but it’s brilliant for Hearts. This time last year, we were bottom of the league and here we are at the top, so let’s make the most of it.”

Celtic have a game in hand and multi-trophy winning Martin O’Neill back in interim charge. Rangers, 14 points adrift in fourth place, will hope for a revival too under new head coach Danny Rohl.

However, McKinlay takes heart from Bloom’s influence at Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

“We’re confident we’re not just here for a short period and we can keep it going,” he added. “Tony has brought a great deal of belief, when we look at how the analytics has been successful at other clubs.

“We genuinely believe that we’ve got a great opportunity. Now, I’m not saying we’re going to win the league this year, but if we don’t, this is not our one and only chance.

“We’ve got something really good going here and we believe we’ll get better and better as the seasons go on.

“USG were almost relegated from the second tier and, within seven years, won the [Belgian] league and are now playing in the Champions League, so we’re confident that at some point we will have Champions League music playing here.

Four more goals, three more points and now nine clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership – perhaps Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay was right when he blithely said “we will win the league” before Dundee’s visit.

He did qualify that claim by stating it might not be this season – rather one further in the future – but, with every game that goes by, the Tynecastle side are enhancing their credentials to break the Old Firm’s title duopoly.

Head coach Derek McInnes was more reserved, simply stating that completing a quarter of the league season in such a healthy position was “a good reference point”.

Hearts were fortunate to escape Paisley with a point on Wednesday, a result which allowed Celtic to narrow the gap to six.

But his side took advantage of the reigning champions being on League Cup duty this weekend to extend their lead with a 4-0 win over Dundee.

And McInnes admitted: “We said the point at St Mirren would be a brilliant and important point if we won today – and that’s the way it has been.

“A few weeks ago, we set a challenge to players, ‘can we be above Celtic before we play them?’. And then ‘can we be top of the league after the first round of fixtures?’.

Hearts’ statistics in those first 11 games are impressive.

With 29 points, McInnes’ side are one win away from equalling the tally they achieved after 12 games under George Burley at the start of the 2005-06 campaign – and this time they do not have a megalomaniac owner poised to sack the manager.

Hearts are undefeated in their last 15 Premiership games – their longest unbeaten streak for more than 10 years – and the division’s only unbeaten side.

They have scored at least once in all 15 of those games – also their best run a decade – and no side has prevented them from scoring.

In Lawrence Shankland, they have a striker reborn. The Scotland international’s opener against Dundee – his third in as many games – took him to the top of the Premiership charts with seven. His 10 overall has already surpassed last season’s tally.

Hearts also made 610 passes on Saturday, their highest total in a league game this term, with midfielder Cammy Devlin attempting 109 – the highest total by a player in the team this term.

Everything sounds like it is moving in the right direction, but McInnes insisted the squad is “getting stronger” and “we feel there is a bit more in us”.

“We’ve got good wide players, we’ve got midfielders who control the game, and the bedrock for a lot of our results has been the clean sheets,” he added.

“Trying to get that balance is not always easy, but we seem to be finding it.”

McInnes admitted “we took a bit of a risk” by dropping new cult-hero forward Claudio Braga and in-form defenders Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley with injury niggles.

However, the fact Braga’s replacement, Pierre Landry Kabore, repaid the managers’ faith with his first two Hearts goals was another indication of the strength of a squad bolstered by their summer tie-in with Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics company.

No wonder McKinlay was so bullish when talking to BBC 5 Live before kick-off.

“It’s dreamland and we’re enjoying it,” said the chief executive. “Scottish football gets criticised for having the two big teams dominating, and in the last decade maybe just one team dominating.

“It’s brilliant for Scottish football, but it’s brilliant for Hearts. This time last year, we were bottom of the league and here we are at the top, so let’s make the most of it.”

Celtic have a game in hand and multi-trophy winning Martin O’Neill back in interim charge. Rangers, 14 points adrift in fourth place, will hope for a revival too under new head coach Danny Rohl.

However, McKinlay takes heart from Bloom’s influence at Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

“We’re confident we’re not just here for a short period and we can keep it going,” he added. “Tony has brought a great deal of belief, when we look at how the analytics has been successful at other clubs.

“We genuinely believe that we’ve got a great opportunity. Now, I’m not saying we’re going to win the league this year, but if we don’t, this is not our one and only chance.

“We’ve got something really good going here and we believe we’ll get better and better as the seasons go on.

“USG were almost relegated from the second tier and, within seven years, won the [Belgian] league and are now playing in the Champions League, so we’re confident that at some point we will have Champions League music playing here.