NAISMITH: WE CAN’T AFFORD DEE-STRACTION
STEVEN NAISMITH knows Dundee will be gunning for revenge but insists all Hearts care about is extending their lead at the summit.
The Jambos laid a marker in the league opener with a 6-2 thrashing of their Championship title rivals at Tynecastle.
And Robbie Neilson’s side go into Saturday’s Dens Park clash brimming with confidence after a 3-1 triumph over Arbroath took them five points clear of Dunfermline.
The Dark Blues are eight points off top, albeit they are building momentum with three wins in a fivegame unbeaten run.
But Naismith, who hit a six-minute hat-trick on Tuesday, admits Hearts are desperate to put daylight between themselves and the rest of the league.
He said: “We want to increase the gap and every game we play is all about winning. We don’t really look at the other teams. If we can keep winning, the gap will become bigger.
“You don’t want there to be a nervousness to our performance.
“We have been good at that so far and that’s what everyone keeps saying – just focus on the next game, which is Dundee. They will want to put down a marker, especially after the first game of the season, and say they are going to challenge for the title.
“We’ll need to be ready as it’ll be a different game as they are at home and they’ll fancy their chances.
“They have been on a good run and have got a few consistent wins. It is a dangerous game but we will be ready for it.”
The only blot on Hearts’ season came with a defeat in Dunfermline last month.
And Naismith insists Neilson’s troops are now building up steam following the interruption of international fixtures and domestic cup games during the opening weeks.
He said: “At the start of the season we had the Scottish Cup semi-final, Final then international games. It was stop-start.
“Performances on the back of that suffer.”
Top scorer Liam Boyce is a doubt for Tayside.
The striker, with seven goals this season, was forced off on Tuesday with hamstring and calf issues.
Christophe Berra, Stephen Kingsley and Aidy White will be available.