Heart of Midlothian manager Neil Critchley has stressed the significance of Sunday’s Edinburgh derby, acknowledging that it carries greater weight than any other Scottish Premiership fixture for the club’s supporters.
The Jambos travel to Easter Road for their third clash with Hibernian this season, and Critchley made it clear that he is under no illusions about the game’s magnitude.
When asked whether he viewed the fixture as just another chance to collect three points, he was unequivocal.
“No, it’s more than that,” Critchley stated. “We don’t hide behind that. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s just another game and it’s just three points.
“It means more. It does. It’s a derby game. We know what it means. We’ve got enough experience within the dressing room. Enough people have played in this fixture before. It does mean more. We need to be ready. We need to be ready for an intense game.”
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Hearts moved into the top six for the first time this season following the midweek results, continuing a strong run of form that has seen them lose just once in their last 11 matches.
Critchley’s men have steadily climbed the table following a difficult start to the campaign, and with momentum now on their side, they have the chance to solidify their position in the battle for European qualification.
A win at Easter Road would not only extend their impressive form but also strike a psychological blow to their city rivals, who also experienced a slow opening to the campaign.
Hibs, currently sitting fourth, have been one of the league’s most in-form sides, going 14 games unbeaten and proving to be a tough team to break down.
“We’re very excited,” Critchley added. “We’ve had a good week so far, six points from six. We want to try and make a good week, a great week if we can.”
