Robbie Neilson has explained how he and his coaching staff structure training to try and help ingrain a winning mentality into the Hearts squad.
The Tynecastle club have won all seven of their competitive games this season, and another against East Fife tomorrow night will secure top spot in Betfred Cup Group A and seeded status for the next round.
While the 100 per cent record helps, Neilson revealed they do everything they can on the training pitch to ensure that will to win remains for the other six days of the week as well.
“Winning games breeds confidence, but we also try to make it quite competitive in training,” he explained.
“Whether it’s small sided games or different tactical things, we always try and make it competitive to try and get that embedded in the squad; that it’s about winning.
“One of thing we spoke about as soon as we came in was that there was a lot of noise in the background with people saying things about the club, about the team and about the mentality within the dressing room.
“We touched on the need to develop that. We moved a number of players out and brought guys in who we felt were winners and tried to continue that by winning throughout pre-season and also going into the Betfred.
“We’ve managed to carry it through but, like at any club, it’s all about the next game and we need to make sure we win that tomorrow night.”
Hearts have been to New Bayview already this season, facing Cowdenbeath there with Central Park out of commission and laboured to a 1-0 win over the Blue Brazil.
Neilson wouldn’t have needed a reminder about the challenge facing Hearts there however, having experienced first hand what Methil is like to play at.
“It’s always tough up there,” he said. “I was up there as a coach and played a few games for them towards the end of my career so I know what it’s like.
“I know the environment. You’re obviously right next to the sea there and it can be difficult. They’ve got the astroturf down so it;s always tough.
“We go up there as the favourites, they’ll be in our face and make it tough so it’s up to us to find a way to win.
“But it’s been like that for the majority of the games this season and we’ve managed to find different ways to win and we’ll have to do the same tomorrow night.”
