Heart of Midlothian are back in action at Tynecastle Park as they welcome Livingston for the final fixture before the split. Of course, unlike other clubs, Hearts have well and truly ensured their spot in the top half and are nearing confirmation of a third-place finish.
Livi will be fighting for their lives, adrift at the bottom at running out of games to claw back the deficit. They provided a stern challenge earlier in the campaign when they packed bodies behind the ball on their previous visit to Gorgie.
Steven Naismith is keen to see his side become better at killing teams off. This will certainly be a good test to do that if Hearts can get in front early on.
Our writers predict the starting XI...
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Joel Sked
Facing the bottom-of-the-table team at Tynecastle Park will see a return to a back four after last week's three-man backline against St Mirren. With that, I'd imagine Steven Naismith will bring Nathaniel Atkinson into the starting XI in place of Dexter Lembikisa.
Of course, there will be question marks over the likes of Stephen Kingsley and Calem Nieuwenhof. The latter has been out with a hamstring injury and the former was replaced last weekend after feeling his hamstring. It could be that they are not risked but if fully fit and available you would expect both to start. Beni Banigime and Lawrence Shankland were the others missing last week and I'd expect them to start also giving the team a really strong look and spine.
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The backline speaks for itself while the midfield provides a nice balance in a game where Hearts will dominate possession. Jorge Grant provides the team with creativity and picks up good positions, Nieuwenhof has become a greater threat going forward and Baningime will ensure things tick over at the base of the midfield.
The big change I can see in the final third is Barrie McKay being brought into the starting XI. After two substitute appearances, the challenge of Livingston may well present the best opportunity to play him from the start. Hearts will require creative options against would could be a deep and compact defence. He can provide that.
Predicted line-up: Clark; Atkinson, Kent, Kingsley, Cochrane; Baningime, Nieuwenhof, Grant; Vargas, Shankland, McKay.
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James Cairney
I expect we’ll see the back four return for this encounter, and I’m preparing for a similar sort of game to the 1-0 win over Livingston at Tynecastle back in November. That day, the home crowd had to be patient. The visitors parked the bus, daring the men in maroon to break them down, and although Hearts dominated the ball, they didn’t make the breakthrough until Kenneth Vargas struck the winner late on.
With David Martindale’s side scrapping for Premiership survival and needing every point they can get, I think we will see a similar approach from both teams – and so a back four seems sensible. I don’t think Livi will offer too much in an attacking sense from open play; instead, this will be a test of Hearts’ creative abilities.
Alex Cochrane is nailed on to start at left-back, and I suspect we’ll see Stephen Kingsley partner Frankie Kent through the middle, although Kye Rowles could be included ahead of Kingsley if the 28-year-old isn’t quite up to full speed after picking up a knock in Paisley last weekend. To the right, it’s a straight decision between Nathaniel Atkinson and Dexter Lembikisa – and, as we’ve previously examined, Atkinson appears to be the better fit for the back four.
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I expect to see Beni Baningime return to the starting line-up after he missed last weekend’s win over St Mirren as his ability to sit at the base of midfield and recycle possession will prove very useful against St Mirren. I imagine the game comes too soon for Calem Nieuwenhof and so I think Cammy Devlin will get the nod on the right of the midfield three, while I’d expect Jorge Grant to hold onto his place in the playmaker role following his strong showing against the Buddies.
Kenneth Vargas will surely start on the right – the Costa Rican has two goals in as many games against Livi – and I think we’ll see Barrie McKay coming back into the starting XI on the other flank. With Livi likely to sit deep with plenty of men parked behind the ball, Hearts will need players who can unpick a defence with a moment of creative brilliance – and McKay is certainly capable of that.
Lawrence Shankland’s return, too, is a welcome boost. The striker was conspicuous by his absence last Saturday when Hearts were building out, and the team suffered as a result. In a match where space is likely to be hard to find, having a centre-forward who can hold the ball up in tight areas will be crucial.
Predicted line-up: Clark; Atkinson, Kent, Kingsley, Cochrane; Baningime, Devlin, Grant; Vargas, Shankland, McKay.
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