‘Stats highlight a lack of creative thrust’

So after three games Neil Critchley remains unbeaten as Hearts head coach. However, on Sunday at Easter Road he was given a true sense of where the club’s issues have been this season.

Hearts had by far the most possession (63%) in the derby, but the inability to break down a vulnerable Hibs team indicates a lack of creativity in the final third.

The stats show Hearts had 11 shots, with nine of those coming inside the 18-yard box, however just two of those were on target and Hibs goalkeeper Josef Bursik was only called upon to make one save.

Digging deeper into the stats, the back four for Hearts had the most touches in the team by some considerable margin. Kye Rowles (109), James Penrice (96), Frankie Kent (75) and Daniel Oyegoke (70) were the ones staring the majority of the attacks.

In midfield, Malachi Boateng led the numbers with 62 touches while Yan Dhanda had just 31 touches and only 72.7% pass accuracy in his time on the pitch.

Hearts have looked more solid defensively in recent weeks, so it does appear that area of the pitch – which was problematic at the start of the campaign – has been resolved.

But it’s the final third where games are won and this is undoubtedly where Critchley and his backroom team will align their focus for tonight’s game against Kilmarnock.