Hearts News Still Available

Last updated : 27 October 2011 By Ed_Scottishfitba

hearts BadgeHearts may have imposed an embargo on staff speaking to the media but information from within the club is still available. The club's TV channel is now the only conduit to how things are working at Tynecastle. While not as informative, as in answering probing questions, but helpful none the less. Their first-team coach Gary Locke is looking to the team to be more consistent ahead of Saturday's SPL game at home to Kilmarnock. Hearts are sitting sit fifth in the table, 14 points behind current leaders Rangers but only five behind second-placed Motherwell. Locke said: "We're always striving to be better. A club like ourselves should be up there challenging. We've got to be a wee bit more consistent, try to pick up on our away form and hopefully if we do that we'll be up there.The home form's been very good. That's one of the positives of the season so far. There were positives to take out of the performance (the 0-2 loss against Rangers) and if we can play like that on Saturday hopefully we'll get three points. Kilmarnock are a difficult team to play against, they pass the ball well, but if we play how we can play, hopefully we'll win."
 
Hearts have won three of their last five SPL games, but Locke has called for his side to be more clinical in front of goal against a capable Killie side. Locke added: "It's important we try to put the chances we've created away. We've certainly got players in the team that are capable of scoring goals. I'm pretty sure if we can create one or two opportunities on Saturday we'll take them. Kilmarnock are a dangerous team to play against. They've got some talented players and we know if we're not on the ball they'll cause us problems."
 
Off the field, Hearts are preparing for manager Paulo Sergio's SFA disciplinary hearing on 3 November. The Portuguese manager is the subject of a notice of complaint in relation to alleged comments made about an official before the 2-0 win at Dunfermline earlier this month. The senior players are still awaiting payment of their wages, which had been due on 16 October. While there is not an outright revolt, it is not the first time wages have been delayed and the players' union, PFA Scotland, are understood to be aware of the situation and the players are assessing their options if the delay continues.