Blair Spittal reveals 'simplified' Hearts approach as recent displays give incoming boss 'food for thought'

Hearts might be bottom of the table but Blair Spittal is confident recent performances will have given the next manager plenty of food for thought.

Interim boss Liam Fox has come in and steadied the ship in recent weeks. Hearts got a stoppage time leveller against Ross County, beat Dinamo Minsk and then narrowly lost to Aberdeen in a five goal thriller. The Tynecastle board are continuing interviews and talks this week, with the aim of appointing Steven Naismith’s successor. Spittal acknowledged: “I think everyone knows there's going to be a new manager in, so it's important in this situation that we give food for thought for whoever that's going to be.”

Fox has given him and the team a lift since stepping up from the B team. The ex-Motherwell player claimed: "It felt good the last couple of games doing what Foxy has asked of me. The last couple of games have been really enjoyable working with him. Just in terms of the ideas he's brought in, him and Waldo [Lee Wallace] and Angus [Beith]. Fresh ideas. It's obviously unfortunate the way things worked out for the old manager but Foxy's simplified a lot of things that needed to be worked on.

“I think we looked more like a team today and on Thursday. I think you could see that in terms of chances created. We caused Aberdeen a lot of problems.”

He netted his first goal with a trademark long range effort at Pittodrie. Spittal explained: "Coming into a new club, I said at the time that I wanted to establish myself in a good team.

"It was going to take a bit of time to adjust. I've felt myself being in or out but hopefully that was a sign of things to come. I found myself earlier in the season playing a lot deeper.

“Playing in the higher sort of eight position gives me licence to