The Jam Tarts Are on Top
Hearts maintained their lead in the Scottish Premiership this weekend in thrilling style. In a tense Edinburgh Derby, which seemed likely to end in a draw against their city rivals Hibernian, a last-minute goal from central defender Craig Halkett secured a dramatic victory. In the first minute of stoppage time, the 30-year-old defender connected with a cross from Sabah Kerjota and skillfully directed the ball into the far corner of the net. Hearts not only triumphed in one of Scottish football’s fiercest rivalries but also continued their impressive start to the season.
Following Saturday’s victory over Hibs, Derek McInnes’ squad has now dropped only two points across their first seven league matches. When considering their performance in all competitions, they have suffered just one defeat in 12 games—technically a draw that ended in a penalty loss to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup. This impressive record has seen Hearts sit at the top of the Scottish Premiership for four of the first seven matchdays. While McInnes and his coaching team deserve substantial credit for this success, they may want to express special gratitude to the club’s summer signings.
This summer, Hearts surprised many by having Brighton owner Tony Bloom acquire a €11.3 million stake in the club, declaring his intention to “disrupt the pattern of domination that has persisted too long” in Scottish football. Despite spending just under €3 million on new players, Hearts brought in a total of 10 new signings, many of whom have played a crucial role in McInnes’ team achieving the top position in the Premiership.
For instance, the aforementioned right winger Kerjota has already contributed a vital assist, while €520,000 signing Cláudio Braga has netted four goals and provided assists up front. In addition, left winger Alexandros Kyziridis has stood out with two goals and three assists in his first seven league matches. Notably, the contributions from Hearts’ new signings account for 50% of the team’s total league goals this season. Only three clubs—Aberdeen, Dundee, and Celtic—have relied more on their new signings for goal contributions so far. This is before their record signing, Ageu, who joined from Santa Clara for €2 million this summer, returns from a hamstring injury and showcases his potential as a playmaker.
Moreover, the impact of Hearts’ new recruits isn’t limited to their attacking prowess. Players like Oisin McEntee at right-back, Alexander Schwolow in goal, and on-loan central defender Stuart Findlay have bolstered a formidable defensive unit that has conceded only six goals in seven matches, marking the second-best defensive record in the league.
It remains to be seen whether Hearts can sustain this momentum as they aim for glory. Before fans can dare to dream of their first league title since 1960, McInnes’ squad must demonstrate their ambitions by overcoming a strong Kilmarnock team in Ayrshire after the international break, followed by a crucial matchup against reigning champions Celtic at Tynecastle towards the end of October. For now, however, it is hard for anyone in Scottish football to deny that Hearts have made remarkable progress this summer, possibly laying the groundwork for Bloom’s larger vision for the club in the Scottish top-flight.
