Why Hearts’ unbeaten run caught Steven Naismith by surprise

Heart of Midlothian’s previous visit to Glasgow’s east end was a memorable one for the approximately 900 supporters who made the short journey along the M8. Celtic Park has not often been a hospitable venue for the Gorgie club, and many fans traveled to the game with hope rather than expectation.

However, something unexpected occurred: Hearts emerged victorious. And not just by a narrow margin. Lawrence Shankland’s early header from a corner gave Steven Naismith’s team the advantage, and Stephen Kingsley doubled their lead with an excellent free-kick after 30 minutes. Celtic struggled to gain a foothold in the match, while Hearts maintained their lead in a thoroughly professional manner.

This victory at Parkhead was Hearts’ first league win there since 2007, and it had significant implications for the team. Energized by their triumph over the champions, Naismith’s men went on to win 10 of their next 11 games in all competitions. The only blemish on their record was a 2-2 draw against Ross County at home. As a result, the Tynecastle club climbed the league table and solidified their position in third place.

Naturally, Naismith maintains that he always had confidence in his team’s ability to secure three points in Glasgow. However, even he was pleasantly surprised by the subsequent turn of events.

“It was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in our season,” Naismith reflected. “But even leading up to that point, I believed in our capabilities. I felt that in many of our previous games, we were unlucky or a single moment cost us. However, this also brought pressure, as the lack of victories increased the stakes.

“We had been leading 1-0 against Aberdeen the week before, only to lose due to being outmuscled. This created a negative atmosphere, but I always sensed that we were moving in the right direction. Did I anticipate that the Parkhead game and its outcome would mark the beginning of a remarkable winning streak? Probably not. However, I did enter the match with the belief that we could achieve an excellent result.”

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