Post Match Interviews

Highlights from interviews given by Valdas Ivanauskas, Jim Hamilton and Stephen Kenny after the game against Hearts at EEP.

Valdas Ivanauskas
The priority for Hearts today was to get all 3 points but he does stress that they need to try and pick up a second goal in games like this. He felt they were eventually under pressure but handled it well. When asked about the feelings within the squad he explains that it is stable and that team spirit is high, but getting injured players back will help further. On Callum Elliot he tells us that he had no doubts about playing the youngster immediately after returning from a loan spell at Motherwell. As regards the transfer window he believes his squad is strong enough but if he sees any quality players he would still be interested.

Jim Hamilton
Jim is obviously disappointed with yet another defeat but reckons they did have some very good chances in the second half and a goal disallowed for no good reason. He says the players should be encouraged by the positives seen in the second half and try to lift themselves and improve on this for the next game.

Stephen Kenny
Stephen is of the opinion that a draw certainly wouldn’t have flattered his side as they had quite a few good chances in the second half. He is disappointed that the defence conceded from Hearts first set piece as they had worked hard in trying to prevent those sort of mistakes. The half time substitutions of Shields and Mason were due to a virus and back spasms respectively and it gave him the chance to go more direct in the second half. Kenny had no idea why Burchills goal was disallowed as he felt Hamilton won the ball cleanly in the air. On transfers, Stephen believes there will be some money to spend and hopes to strengthen the squad with some new signings as well as with injured players returning. When asked about the chances of relegation, Kenny is realistic about the teams chances but points out that there are still a lot of points to play for and that the games in the run up to the split favours us in the relegation battle.