Heart of Midlothian have equalled an unwanted record already this season - and will be aiming to ensure it isn't prolonged against Motherwell this afternoon.

Steven Naismith's side have failed to win any of their first four matches to start the season. A key aspect of the winless run has been the lack of goals.

Hearts have scored just one goal in four games. An opening-day goalless draw with Rangers has been followed by a 3-1 loss at Dundee, 2-0 defeat to Falkirk and late disappointment at Viktoria Plzen, going down 1-0.

Naismith has taken comfort from the fact the team have been creating chances. But the finishing has been wayward. The team have yet to get more than three shots on target in any of their four games.

"We haven't been clinical enough, that's why we are out of the cup," the Hearts head coach said after the game in Plzen. "We created good chances in every game and that's a positive.

"I felt we weren't creating them at the start of last season. We just haven't taken them and that impacts games. I'm confident the guys we have will definitely score goals."

Prior to this season, only once in the club's history since the inception of the Scottish Football League in 1890 have a Hearts side failed to score more than one goal in their opening four games.

You have to go back to the 1918/19 campaign when the team began the season slowly, losing their first three games before back-to-back goalless draws.

Hearts started the season with a 2-0 loss at Greenock Morton. They then lost 4-1 at home to Rangers before a 1-0 defeat at Airdrieonians and 0-0 draws with Motherwell and St Mirren at home respectively.

It took until the sixth fixture of the season for Hearts to score a second and third goal of the season as they defeated Dumbarton 2-1 (discounting the 2-1 win over Hibs in the EOSS final five days prior).

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Since 1918, there have been four occasions where Hearts have scored just twice in their first four matches and a couple of times where they have scored in just one of the opening four fixtures.

Last season's top scorer Lawrence Shankland is one of those waiting to open his account for the season. He reckons it will just take one going in for more to follow.

"Aye that's it," he said. "The good thing is you have shots on goals and, as daft as that sounds to other people, to a striker you're making goalies make saves. There will be one point where one sneaks past him.

"My second one [against Plzen[ in particular goes through a few bodies and he actually does well to save it. It's positive for the team that we had opportunities and I think there's a bit of hope going into next week."