Stephen Kingsley has warned Hibs high-flying Hearts are still nowhere near their best.
Robbie Neilson’s in-form outfit go into Sunday’s Edinburgh derby Scottish Cup showdown as firm favourites. Hearts are clear in third spot in the Premiership while their city rivals sit sixth going into the Easter Road cracker.
Kingsley’s team warmed-up for the showpiece tie with a magnificent 5-0 win over Aberdeen, but the defender says that, despite the emphatic scoreline, the Tynecastle side were not at their peak and still have more in the locker. The Hearts ace explained: “It couldn’t have been any better. Obviously, Aberdeen had a tough game the other day, but we knew it would still be a tough game, as it is any time we play them. So I’m just delighted that we won, first and foremost, and the manner we played. It is only positive getting that result against a team like Aberdeen when we are going into a big game on Sunday.
“But, I think, we can still play a lot better, I don’t think we played anywhere near our best. I think we have certainly played better and not gotten that kind of result. Sometimes that can happen.
“We were clinical in front of goal, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. In fact, I think the first time we played Aberdeen, up there, in the first half we dominated and were brilliant in the first half but couldn’t score.
“We missed something like three sitters and then, in the second half, they came out, did much better, scored two goals and we got beat 2-0. It was good that this time we took our chances and maybe they were tired from their game the other day so us converting those early chances and being clinical was obviously massive.”
Although confidence is high and the mood around the Hearts camp is ultra positive, Kingsley knows an Edinburgh Derby brings its own challenges and dangers.
Despite a strong recent record against Hibs, the Scotland cap is aware of the pitfalls and said: “Of course. They have had a tough time of it recently, but a derby’s a derby and, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter about past results or current form.
“All that goes out the window in a big derby and a cup game, especially. It is about the better team on the day. We need to make sure that is us.”
