31 per cent.

Since Heart of Midlothian triumphed at Easter Road in a Scottish Cup derby back in January they have won just 31 per cent of their games. Nine wins from their last 29. The most recent of their 15 defeats during that period arrived at St Mirren on Saturday afternoon in predictable fashion. An all too familiar script. The latest in a depressing franchise for the club's support.

"We give up a very cheap goal and then we have three good chances which we have to score," Naismith offered. "That is ultimately what defined the game."

Fans would point to the bigger picture, of the match and the trajectory of the team.

The feel-good factor which was at a high following that win over Hibs in Leith nine long months ago has been eroded. It was a feel-good factor built on a fan base coming together during the European sojourn before taking control of third spot and then progressing in the cup against their city rivals. It is a feel-good factor which has splintered into anger and apathy, judging by the reaction of supporters at the end of the game at St Mirren and online. 

In Paisley there was another big away crowd which backed the team throughout. As there was at Dundee and as there was at St Johnstone. As there has been for a while now. Yet, there has been just one league win away from home all year. The club's support are being short changed with the performances and results.

In general, there is a recurring theme of starting games slowly, often not getting up to the speed of the game until the second half or until it is too late. In some cases not at all. Eleven games into the season and Hearts remain one-paced and predictable. They are too easy to play against as was demonstrated against St Mirren. Allow Hearts the ball, as soon as they've been tempted forward, press, crowd them out, win possession and counter quickly. 

READ MORE: Naismith has say on slow start, away form and Devlin role - Full Q&A

“Short-term, the biggest thing we need to consistently deal with is teams being happy to let us have the ball and for them to go without it and punish us when they win it in the transition moments," Naismith said ahead of the game. "We need to deal with that better, and that’s when we’ve got the ball."

Hearts are failing to get to grips with Scottish football 101.

Take Kye Rowles and Frankie Kent up against Toyosi Olusanya. They didn't get on top of the Englishman, especially the Australian centre-back who had been credited for being more aggressive against Aberdeen. The striker made just nine passes all match, but his direct running and strength unnerved the Hearts defence, allowing St Mirren to play longer and get up the pitch. Winning that battle early on limits the Buddies' options.

The team had 70 per cent of possession. It is no surprise that no one averages more passes per shot (44.68) in the Premiership than Hearts. Naismith wants his side to play quicker. There was a loud expletive heard from the head coach early on at the SMiSA Stadium as Beni Baningime took a safe, lateral option to Kye Rowles rather than missing out the centre-back and getting it to Stephen Kingsley. 

READ MORE: St Mirren 1 Hearts 0: Instant reaction to the burning issues

In the open training session held in pre-season club captain Craig Gordon noted that the team had done "a lot of tactical work". There has been a change in shape since Naismith replaced Robbie Neilson and a desire for a different style. Eleven games into the season the team a work in progress. That is acceptable but it appears on the showings so far, they are still at the nascent stage of that work in progress. The early positive signs from his interim spell have not yet been built on.

That is compounded by a key identity which has been missing from the team, an identity which Hearts have been known for down the years. You know the one. Big Physical Hearts. A nightmare to play against. Battling, confrontational, streetwise. Intimidating even. Possessing an ability to grind out results.

Take that last point, when was the last time Hearts ground out a result when not playing well? Those scrappy 1-0 wins?

This Hearts team appears lost at the moment and they are in danger of losing the fans.