Where did it go wrong for Naismith & what's next for Hearts?

No wins successful 9 matches successful each competitions and 8 successive defeats. That dismal early-season shape spelled nan extremity for Steven Naismith arsenic Heart of Midlothian caput coach, nan 38-year-old erstwhile Scotland striker having signed a caller statement arsenic precocious arsenic August.

They person conceded soft goals astatine an alarming complaint this play and person struggled to create chances of statement astatine nan different end.

Naismith did not look to cognize his strongest squad and Lawrence Shankland - nan Scotland striker to whom he truthful often turned past play - is yet to occurrence successful beforehand of goal.

The distant extremity successful Paisley connected Saturday made their feelings very clear aft St Mirren's 2-1 win - they called for Naismith to go, and spell now.

When a fanbase turns for illustration that, location is usually nary coming backmost for nan man successful nan hotseat, and truthful it proved, pinch Naismith fixed his marching orders connected Sunday.

So wherever will Hearts move adjacent and wherever did it each spell incorrect for nan erstwhile Scotland guardant aft past season's third-place finish?

Former Hearts defender Allan Preston told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound: "I work together wholeheartedly that Steven Naismith had to go.

"Eight consecutive defeats, retired of nan cup to a Championship nine successful Falkirk, continually losing goals from set-plays - it was relentless and it simply wasn't bully enough.

"He didn't cognize his champion XI, aliases his champion formation. Some of nan decisions were baffling."

The statistic down nan alternatively unpleasant results do not make beautiful reference either.

Hearts person had 159 touches successful nan guidance container crossed their six convention games - only league-leaders Celtic person had much - but person created conscionable 5 large chances and person scored conscionable 3 goals - nan joint-fewest successful nan division, pinch a changeable conversion complaint of 4.17%.

Their 72 shots person resulted successful a cumulative xG worth of 5.14 - nan 2nd lowest successful nan convention - which suggests they person been shooting from non-threatening areas.

Perhaps astir alarmingly, Shankland has had much shots (22) and touches successful nan guidance container (43) than immoderate different subordinate successful nan convention but is yet to score. Hearts' reliance connected nan 29-year-old's goals has seldom been much evident.

It's grim reference defensively, too.

No squad has made much errors starring to goals (two) and nary squad has shipped much from set-pieces (six).

There besides ne'er appeared to beryllium a settled back-line. Naismith switched betwixt a backmost 4 and a backmost 5 almost connected a play ground and made 17 changes to his starting XI successful full - hardly nan motion of a coach assured successful his players.

There has besides been disapproval of Hearts' transportation business complete nan summer.

Left-back James Penrice and midfield duo Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda arrived connected free transfers from chap Premiership clubs but person been incapable to replicate erstwhile form.

Musa Drammeh was signed from Sevilla's reserves, but nan striker has yet to make his debut for nan nine and has not been picked successful their Conference League squad.

Loan signings Andres Salazar and Gerald Taylor person some played world football, for Colombia and Costa Rica, respectively, but person some made costly mistakes astatine nan backmost since arriving successful Gorgie - and location appears to beryllium a deficiency of equilibrium to nan squad.

Hearts person held talks pinch Brighton & Hove Albion proprietor Tony Bloom astir perchance utilizing nan entrepreneur's analytical institution for subordinate recruitment successful early arsenic they hunt for a higher occurrence complaint successful nan transportation market.

"The recruitment has been dreadful," Preston suggested. "They person sewage 9 cardinal midfield players and 1 right-back. That's not bully enough.

"Hopefully, if Tony Bloom comes in, that will get sorted retired and, equally, I want them to beryllium progressive successful nan recruitment of nan caller manager.

"If I was to prime 1 successful Scotland, it would beryllium Derek McInnes. He has done a awesome occupation astatine Kilmarnock, but I deliberation Hearts will spell down a different route."

Former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson believes it was a nonaccomplishment to not bring successful a striker to alleviate nan load connected skipper Shankland.

"There is 1 feline who tin people goals," he told nan BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "There is simply a glaringly evident spread down Shankland and Hearts did thing to benignant it.

"Hearts needed 2 strikers successful that window. You cannot inquire 1 feline to people 33 goals 1 twelvemonth and do nan aforesaid again, unless it's Ronaldo aliases Messi. Who made nan determination to not motion different strikers? Ultimately, it falls connected nan board."

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The woody pinch Bloom's analytical institution - should it beryllium completed - will thief pinch identifying nan correct players successful nan correct positions for nan correct price.

And, indeed, it whitethorn besides play a manus successful identifying a caller caput coach.

Hearts is simply a large occupation successful Scottish shot - arguably 1 of nan apical 3 successful nan state - and location will beryllium galore who fancy a ace astatine taking complete astatine Tynecastle.

The likes of Dundee's Tony Docherty and Kilmarnock'sMcInnes are judge to beryllium among nan contenders, arsenic will Alex Neil, who has been retired of a occupation since being sacked by Stoke City successful December.

However, I wouldn't beryllium excessively amazed if a overseas coach is fixed nan nod, peculiarly if Bloom and his institution are progressive successful nan decision.

More pressing, though, is what happens connected nan pitch, pinch Ross County coming to Tynecastle connected Saturday.

Three points must beryllium nan target and it provides a chance for nan Hearts players to show what they really tin do connected nan transportation aft specified a mediocre commencement to nan season.