Craig Halkett got his first taste of a tetchy Tynecastle – before insisting that pressure is exactly why he joined Hearts .
The Gorgie faithful made their feelings known on Wednesday night as the Edinburgh club narrowly avoided a humbling Betfred Cup defeat against League Two Stenhousemuir.
A cacophony of jeers rained down from the stands when Mark McGuigan gave the Warriors a shock lead in the capital with the home side also booed off with the score goalless at half-time.
However, Craig Levein ’s side held their nerve and mounted a laudable comeback, with Halkett scoring twice in the last seven minutes to secure a stirring victory for Hearts.
Boss Levein praised his side’s perseverance on a largely frustrating night for the players and supporters alike – and former Livingston captain Halkett believes the Jambos showed the fortitude required to pull on a maroon jersey.
He said: “When there are so many blocks and saves, you maybe start to think it’s not your day – but when you play with a team like Hearts, you can’t let these things bother you.
“You’ve got to keep going and, more often than not, get the result which gets the fans back on your side.
“That pressure was fine. It’s expected. When you come to Hearts, you’re coming to one of the biggest clubs in Scotland.
“You’re expected to win the majority of games, so you’ve got to take it on your chin and get on with it.
“Wednesday was the first time I’ve felt a wee bit of the pressure but I’m not going to let that affect me. That’s exactly why I came here. This is the step up in my career I felt I needed.”
