Hearts can STILL challenge Rangers for second spot as fans told Steven Naismith deserves time
Kevin Kyle insists struggling Hearts can STILL split the Old Firm this season.
The Jambos are second bottom of the table and out of the Premier Sports Cup after a dreadful start to the campaign. Fans went into the campaign with huge optimism as a number of exciting signings including Yan Dhanda, Blair Spittal and Gerald Taylor checked into Tynecastle over the summer.
But after kicking off their campaign with a goalless draw at home to Rangers, Steven Naismith's side have crashed to SIX consecutive defeats across all competitions. The alarming form has sparked unrest amongst the demanding maroon support with many already calling for Naismith to go.
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However, former striker Kyle believes Naisy has credit in the bank after leading the Jambos into Europe on the back of finishing third last term. And despite being a whopping 11 points adrift of joint-top Aberdeen, Kyle is adamant Hearts can still challenge for second spot.
He told STV: "They (Hearts) are off to a horrendous start, I was at the first game of the season, I took my youngest up to watch the game against Rangers. I thought Hearts were quite good that day, but since then they haven’t quite kicked on from that or performed as well, whether that is from having the games in Europe or whether it is the new bodies trying to bed in.
"There are a few fans starting to make noises and pressure is building on Steven Naismith, but it only takes one game to turn things around. I think this happened last season as well, when they had a run of three or four defeats, and they managed to turn that around and finish third, so hopefully it’s just a blip and a bump on the road and they can turn it around and get going again.
"Some of the fans just aren’t having him, it was the same with Robbie (Neilson). The fans pay their money and are entitled to their opinions, but you can’t always agree with their opinions and have to look at it from a wider aspect.
"The reality is that Hearts need to be winning games and ultimately finishing third each year, then looking to challenge the top two. That’s always difficult, but I think looking at the way Rangers are just now there is no reason to say Hearts shouldn’t be up there challenging.
"They’ve got off to a bad start and puts more pressure on the club as a whole but I would like to see them give him (Naismith) time, he is a young manager and sometimes it isn’t straightforward for young managers who finish playing and then jump straight into management and there is a learning process.
"Whether he gets the time or not is up to him, if he starts getting results again he’ll be fine, but if he doesn’t then the Hearts board will have a decision to make."