Hearts can deliver in big games
Manager Neil Critchley has dismissed the suggestion his Hearts side have failed in the big games this season.Sunday's derby defeat to Hibernian extended the Jambos' winless run against their capital rivals to four matches, three of which Critchley presided over.Since taking charge in October the Englishman has steered Hearts from bottom spot to seventh, but has failed to record a win against Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen as well as Hibs.Critchley, though, insists his team have delivered big results.As Hearts prepare to host Dundee in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Friday night, Critchley said: "They're all big games when you play for Hearts."Every game is a big game and if you look at the situation when I came in, I think we had two points after 11 games. Every game from that moment was a big game and we've won some games, regardless of the opposition."We're under pressure to perform at this football club and there's an expectation going into every game. Some games are more important than others and if you look at some of those games, we've performed well."But sometimes the result goes against you. You don't get everything that you always deserve."We didn't deserve, with our second-half performance last week, to win the game. It still took a brilliant strike to separate the two sides and there was nothing in the game when you analyse it."We were better first half, they were better second half, but we lost. That's the reality of the game and the reality of football. But that won't derail my focus and my belief in this group of players."Critchley is seeking a strong response from his players after the derby defeat as they look to secure a semi-final spot."When you're trying to build something that's long-term and sustainable, you're going to have bumps on the road on the way. Progress is never linear," he said."I think we've definitely shown progress and until the second half of last week, we've been playing quite well, in good form, winning games and we have to make sure that we now show the right response tomorrow night."
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