By Moselaunch 
Still on the hunt for their first league win of the season, Hearts are set to host St Mirren at Tynecastle Park in a Scottish Premiership clash on Saturday. With a dismal start that has left them at the bottom of the table, the Jam Tarts are desperate to turn their fortunes around under newly appointed manager Neil Critchley. St Mirren, sitting mid-table, will aim to capitalize on Hearts’ struggles and secure a vital three points.
Match Preview: Hearts’ Struggles and St Mirren’s Edge Hearts have had a rough beginning to their 2024-25 campaign, collecting just two points from their eight matches. After three successful seasons in the top flight, finishing third and fourth in recent years, the club’s current form has come as a shock. Following a poor run that included six losses, manager Steven Naismith was sacked after a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren in September. Interim manager Liam Fox briefly steadied the ship with a Conference League win against Dinamo Minsk, but Hearts fell back into losing ways with a defeat to Aberdeen.
Critchley, known for his time at Blackpool, steps in to lead Hearts through what promises to be a challenging season. His first task is to restore confidence in a squad that’s been struggling on all fronts. A win against St Mirren could provide a much-needed boost.
On the other hand, St Mirren, under Steve Robinson, had a strong start to the season but recently suffered a dip in form with two consecutive defeats. After beginning the season unbeaten in four matches, St Mirren have found themselves on the wrong side of results in the last few weeks. Still, with eight points from eight games, they sit in a relatively comfortable position and will look to replicate their September win over Hearts.
Team News and Predicted Lineups Hearts will be without midfielder Jorge Grant, who is suspended following his red card against Aberdeen. Injuries also plague the squad, with Calem Nieuwenhof and Gerald Taylor sidelined, and both Daniel Oyegoke and Stephen Kingsley doubtful. Critchley could shake things up in his first game in charge, potentially introducing some fresh faces to his starting eleven.
St Mirren will be missing Alex Iacovitti, who’s dealing with a tendon injury, and Conor McMenamin, though McMenamin is expected to return later in the month. Scott Tanser, back from suspension, is likely to feature, offering some solidity to the visitors’ defense.
Hearts Probable Lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Vargas, Spittal, Boateng, Baningime, Dhanda; Shankland
St Mirren Probable Lineup:
Balcombe; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Bwomono, Phillips, Boyd-Munce, O’Hara, Tanser; Olusanya, Mandron
Prediction: Hearts 1-2 St Mirren While new manager Neil Critchley may inspire a better performance from Hearts, the visitors’ stronger start and more stable squad give them the edge. St Mirren should secure a narrow victory, but Hearts won’t go down without a fight.