Neil Critchley hopes for Hearts takeoff at last as boss sets sights on sinking Aberdeen

Neil Critchley is hoping Hearts’ season will finally take lift-off after they delivered back-to-back wins for the first time.

James Penrice’s goal meant the Jambos claimed consecutive victories after beating Motherwell at home and then United at Tannadice 1-0. It is the first time the Gorgie side have claimed two Premiership wins on the bounce since April and their manager hopes it has his team looking up rather than down.

The Englishman acknowledged: “Yeah, crucial. That was the message to the players before the game that’s the first time we’ve won back-to-back in the league this season and that gives us a good big lift, especially winning here to come away from home which we’ve not done particularly well away from home this season.

“We’ve had back-to-back 1-0 wins, it’s a great scoreline 1-0, clean sheets and nicking a good goal which Penners did. It should be three wins but I have to stop going on about the Ross County game, I’m still having nightmares about that one.”

Hearts are still second bottom but are eight points clear of stranded St Johnstone and just four points off the top six. Critchley stated: “We just want to keep performing like we did today and if we do that then the results will take care of itself.

“I know the league is really tight, really quite close, congested from ourselves up to maybe six, like you said, so we’ve had an important couple of wins but don’t get too high when you’re in and don’t get too down when you lose. We’re going to Aberdeen next week and that will obviously be another tough game.”

It was a setback to United but they have lost just two in 11 and are still clear in third place. The Jamestown Analytics had kicked into play for Hearts’ January computer, although so far all they