Steven Naismith insists top three talk is now a taboo topic at Hearts after suffering a sixth straight defeat in the derby to Hibs.
The Hearts caretaker also believes he can steer his team out of the freefall which cost Robbie Neilson his job last week. Kevin Nisbet's second-half winner earned the Easter Road a deserved first home derby triumph since 2018 and Nasmith is adamant the gloom hanging Gorgie will be banished when they get back to winning games.
He said: "I'm confident these players can turn it around and start winning games. The club has got an expectation of being in Europe and finishing as high as they can every year, and that shouldn't change. Since I've come in, and since being around the players, there's no chat of third place. We need to give ourselves a chance of that by winning games. It's really just about winning games."
Hearts were again well below par in a performance where they failed to muster much attacking threat and Naismith admits the players were left dejected in a match which had ten yellow cards.He said: "After the game there's frustration that we've just lost a derby. We were all here expecting and wanting to win the game.
“There's experienced players all around the group, injured or not injured, who understand football and have been in these situations before. All is not lost. We've lost a game. We've got time and we've got games on our side to go and perform well and get the results we need.
“What I'm pleased about is from how much information we've given them, I saw a good amount of detail that they've picked up that I'm hoping in another week's time, we'll be able to hold more of an attacking threat next week and create better chances because I thought at best today we had average chances.
"I didn't think there was too much in the game and I didn't think it was a great game. It lacked a bit of quality and we didn't carry enough of a threat.
"One set-play moment cost us. I thought overall we defended their direct play. long balls and individual threats very well. We changed a bit in terms of how we defend and it showed in terms of how well the players have taken that in. One moment cost us three points."
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