Robbie Neilson defends Hearts record after more Perth pain as he insists 'I have to look at the bigger picture'

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson accepts he has to take the flak after defeat in Perth.

But he says he also has to look at the bigger picture.

Neilson’s team were booed off the pitch having lost to St Johnstone, who were bottom of the table prior to kick-off just as Dundee were before winning at Tynecastle 10 days earlier.

The boss didn’t hide, but looked for perspective as he said: “The last two weeks haven’t been good enough for the level we’ve shown we can get to.

“We’ve had a really good start and middle and we’re going through a wee dip.

“We aren’t a good enough team to win every single week. We’re sitting clear in third and we need to remember where we are.

“We should be putting on a better display and have to take the flak that comes with losing, but I have to look at the bigger picture. We know we will have ups and downs.

“We came up from the Championship and we are a big club and are expected to win but we are still building as a team. Two years ago we were bottom.

“There’s massive negativity because we lost last week and this week and we have to stick together and push forwards.”

Neilson, meanwhile, discussed the interest of St Mirren in Hearts youth coach Steven Naismith.

He said: “Steven is a coach who’s come in and is doing a really good job with the 18s. I’m very impressed with him, but there will be a number of coaches they’re looking at.

“We see him every day in training. Whether it’s one for him is up to him to decide, but I think it’ll be a long shortlist for that one.”

Goals from Ali Crawford and Jamie McCart capped a splendid Saints show as they extended a horror Hearts record of no league wins in a dozen years at McDiarmid Park.

Hearts had moments, but Saints just about deserved it after a start to