'It is a gift to have a support like this' - Hearts boss Daniel Stendel has called on his players to do more for the fans

Daniel Stendel has told his Hearts players to give more for the club’s fans.

The Tynecastle boss was left scratching his head after seeing his team go 2-0 down within 16 minutes to relegation rivals Hamilton Academical at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Hearts recovered to score twice after the break against the ten men of Accies, rescuing a point, but it still leaves the team bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership with 11 matches remaining.

Stendel spoke positively about the club’s fans and how he has told the players to give everything they can for the support.

“We have unbelievable support,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how bad the situation is, it is a gift to have a support like this.

“I can’t always understand the support they give, because the players can be giving so much more to the supporters. I told them to improve their body language, fight in the front, this is the minimum the supporters and I expect of them to change results.”

Once again, Hearts were left bemoaning errors which gifted the opposition goals with Marios Ogkmpoe netting twice.

Stendel noted that “the problem right now is that every small mistake is a goal”.

He said: “Against ten men it’s normal we have more pressure and chances. We had the chance to win this game, but we only take one point which is not what we need.”

Hearts face fellow relegation battlers St Mirren in their next must-win fixture when they travel to Paisley on Friday night.