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Daniel Stendel admits having his players use ropes and goggles in training was a first for him, but he’ll try anything to help Hearts out of their current predicament.

The German may well feel he's on to something after watching his Jambos turn in another excellent display against Rangers to dump them out of the William Hill Scottish Cup at the weekend.

The work he’s been doing over the last couple of paid off big time as his side produced a more disciplined version of their high pressing style to book a semi-final date with city rivals Hibs.

They now have to repeat that in order to haul themselves off the bottom of the Premiership table, starting with tonight’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.

To prepare for the Rangers tie Stendel had his charges tied together with ropes to get them used to moving as a cohesive unit.

He’s not the first to do so either. Arsenal’s famously tight back four honed their understanding using the same technique under George Graham, as did Arrigo Sacchi’s all-conquering AC Milan team of the early 90s.

Stendel has been stressing the importance of his side doing things as one over the last few weeks, but felt he had to do something different to really ensure his players got it.

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He admitted: “Honestly, I hadn’t done it before.

“In the end, it was a result of our analysis, what we had seen in games.

“We needed more discipline, more trust in the behaviour of team-mates when someone does things.

“So it was one idea. The future will show whether it was the right idea or not – one game is not enough.

“Everything we do, if we want to press high or defend deep, it’s important that we do it at the same time – and together.

“That means not only the back four. That means all players on the pitch.

“It was more difficult than I expected to get this. That’s the reason why we decided to break it down – and come up with some ideas for training.

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“This was one idea. But, in the end, it’s not the secret that changes everything instantly.

“It was an idea. And after the St Mirren game we had a little bit more time to work on things.

“So the focus was more on our defensive play. That doesn’t mean we want to sit deep all the time.

“It only means that we have more trust in our defending in every part of the pitch.

“It was useful for the last time. It’s not an idea for every time.”

As for the goggles, that was to help improve peripheral vision and increase the players’ awareness of the space around them, something Stendel watched the best in the world do during El Clasico over the weekend.

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He continued: “That’s also not such a special idea. But there aren’t many opportunities to train that.

“We just had the feeling that the players were watching the ball too much, that they didn’t look enough at the spaces, at their team-mates – and the opposition players, especially the striker.

“It’s a big, big part of football for the best players in the world.

“On Sunday night I watched Real Madrid against Barcelona. And every second, the players were looking at the space around them, looking at what could be the next ball, what the next situation could be.

“If you have that, you don’t need a fast player. You just need a player who is quick in the head.

“So that training was to help that side of the game for everybody.”

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Meanwhile Sean Clare is hoping to continue his good record at Easter Road.

The Englishman is unbeaten in his three visits to Leith in maroon, which kicked off with him assisting Olly Lee’s wonder goal in a 1-0 win their in December 2018.

And while the Hibees left Gorgie with all three points back on Boxing Day, he stressed both teams have a different look about them now.

“I was there for the 1-0 and the 2-1, so I don’t think I’ve lost there; I’ve played three, won two and drawn one,” he recalled.

“We generally go there and do well but we can’t dwell on past performances. We can take belief from them but it’s a fresh game. They’ve changed since we last played them, we’ve changed, so it’s going to be a good battle.

“But I believe it’s one we can go and win. If we do the right things we can go there and get the three points.”