The worrying Hearts home run that Craig Levein must…

The worrying Hearts home run that Craig Levein must change to relieve pressure

If you ask any footballer they'll tell you Tynecastle is a place they both love and hate.

They love the atmosphere at a ground where the fans are so close to the pitch but the know they're in for a battle any time they go there.

That was the case, until this year, it seems.

Craig Levein has publicly questioned his players 'b***s' after yet another defeat at home for Hearts and fans want rid of him.

Protests outside the ground after the defeat to Hamilton showed where things were going but things looked to be turning around with a victory over Hibs at Easter Road then beating Aberdeen in the cup on penalties to reach the semi-final.

Saturday's lifeless defeat to Kilmarnock - where Levein appeared to recreate his famous no strikers tactic from his Scotland days - saw the pressure build again.

It's now 13 games that Hearts have played in the Premiership in 2019 and it's heralded just two victories. They've come against St Johnstone and Aberdeen last season and the Jambos have witnessed defeats to Celtic and Rangers, as well as the likes of Dundee, Killie and most frustratingly for the fans, Hibs.

Levein questioned the mentality of the players in dealing with the home support after the 1-0 loss on Saturday when he said: "It's a brilliant stadium - it's a fantastic place to play but you've got to have a pair of b**** to play here.

"Too many of the players felt a little bit sorry for themselves. You could tell with their body language and that’s the bit that makes me angry.

"Everybody was waiting on somebody else being the one who changed the game. Did they try? Arguably.

"Did they try hard enough? Absolutely not. I’ve been at this point in the last four or five weeks where my job when they are struggling is to try and support them and help their confidence.

"We’ve got some light at the end of the tunnel with getting players back from injuries and my point to the players today was ‘don’t come knocking on my door if you’re not selected in the upcoming matches'.

Kilmarnock's Chris Burke heads in the opener (SNS Group)

"Because there’s been plenty opportunities handed out. That wasn’t acceptable today. Whatever the stats say, it’s still not what I want us to do at home.”