'Hearts are back?', 'composed Clare', Damour and Bozanic' - Three takeaways from huge 3-1 win over Hibs

Hearts are back…?

Well before kick off Hearts fans were already making a racket in the away end with a drum. The popular song of choice was the ‘We’ve got a diamond Daniel Stendel’ which ends with ‘we’ve got Souttar at the back, Boycie in attack, Stendel’s got us playing, Hearts are back!’ The German should be praised for the alterations he has made in the last two games through his work on the training ground. The team are no longer easier to play against. They play smarter, they are more cohesive and there is a greater togetherness with the players working and moving in unison. Against Hibs they were direct, turning the defence and then pushing up and making it very difficult for the opponents. They now have the chance to send a message to their relegation rivals on Saturday against Motherwell. A victory will be the first time they have had back-to-back league wins in the league in 400 days.

Composed Clare

Rewind a few months and Sean Clare had already been written off by a number of Hearts fans. Come December and being substituted in a home defeat to St Johnstone it was hard to see a way back for the Englishman. The transformation has been stark and the culmination of not only his hard work but the trust he has built up amongst the support now came at Easter Road. Standing over a penalty with the score at 0-0 and Hearts at a crucial point in their season. Hero or villain. What one was it going to be? Cool, calm and composed he sent it into the bottom corner past Ofir Marciano and began what was to be a successful night.

Midfield battle

When the line-ups came out, there were plenty of fans on both sides as well as neutrals looking at the midfield battle. The highly-rated trio of Greg Docherty, Stephane Omeonga and Scott Allan against the unfashionable Olivier Bozanic and Loic Damour. The Hearts duo have had plenty of doubters but they dominated their more vaunted trio. Aggressive, committed and more aware than their opponents. Damour covered plenty of ground and was so adept at picking up on second balls. Then there was Bozanic. For the second game running he was excellent. He swept from side to side, covering team-mates wide very well, won his battles and then there was the goal. He eased it as if rolling a bowl towards the jack. Instead it was a ball past Ofir Marciano into the top corner.