Hearts interim boss Steven Naismith admits finishing third IS the goal but insists his side are doomed to fail if they get their mindset wrong.
The man who replaced Robbie Neilson raised eyebrows when he claimed finishing best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers was not the be all and end all – despite Jambos chief Andrew McKinlay stressing the importance of overhauling Aberdeen after axeing the manager in the wake of five consecutive defeats.
Naismith's first game in charge did not go to plan as they were downed by rivals Hibs and they now sit five points behind the Reds with six games remaining. And the former Scotland star is unbowed and reckons a change in approach will reap rewards as they chase down Aberdeen. Speaking on Sky Sports, Naismith said: "From the club's point of view third is the aim. It has got to be the aim because three years ago we were in the Championship. Strides have been made, you get the taste of European football and what comes from that is expectation. Now the club has got to strive to be better. In the background there are lots of good things going on.
"For me, if you don't win games you are not going to be in the mix for that. What we first need to think about is to enjoy playing football, which then gets you more chances in games and gets you wins. Then we will look come the last few games of the season and say, 'are we in the pack for it, or are we not?'
"That's got to be the way you look at, if you look at any other way, or you set it up any other way, I think you are doomed to fail. You can't look beyond where you are at this moment in time. So, for me, it's about first performance, secondly getting the result which will come from a good performance and after the split you play everybody in the mix so that's the telling part of the season anyway."
Hearts face rock bottom Ross County at Tynecastle this weekend before heading into the final five games after the split.
And Naismith backed his players to dig themselves out of the rut that has put their Euro hopes on the line and cost Neilson his job. He added: “There is a good group of footballers here who want to win and be successful. I think that’s been questioned over the last six to eight weeks with results but overall the guys are desperate to do well.
“We needed to change things that were happening rather than staying in the rut we were in. We did that against Hibs. We defended much more solid than we had been.
“We probably never carried as big a threat as I would like us to have from where the club have been over the last few years making strides in terms of attacking football. That’s something we will look to change in the coming weeks. We are in no doubt this week will be a tough game.
“Ross County are well organised defensively and have a threat going forward. White up front is a threat on initial attacks and also around the box. They have comfortable footballers that make good choices.
“We are at home with a packed house desperate for the team to do well. We have a group of players with really good ability and want to be successful. We have to use that and go and put on a performance that allows us to win the game.”
Naismith was delighted to see ACL injury victims Boyce and Baningime back in training - but admitted they are a long way off being ready to return to action.
He said: “Liam and Beni and back in the group. That’s not full session, it’s early stages back involved with the group and get involved with warm-ups. It will be scaled over the next month and determined by the physios and how these players are feeling. It’s great to have them around the group.
“Liam and Beni have been out with bad injuries, I’ve been there myself and getting out on the grass is a massive part of it.”
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