Michael Smith knows the importance of Hearts beating Hibs at Easter Road

Fresh from dancing around the Easter Road dressing room to Conor Washington’s playlist, the Hearts players revert to serious mode again for Motherwell’s visit to Tynecastle Park tomorrow.

Music blared into the night from the bowels of Hibs’ stadium on Tuesday following Hearts’ stunning 3-1 win. Fans rejoiced at the Edinburgh derby success and defender Michael Smith admitted the celebrations were beyond anything he has witnessed in nearly three years as a Tynecastle player.

Camaraderie is a key part of any team sport and Hearts need as much as possible in their quest to avoid relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership. That continues tomorrow.

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“The mood in the dressing room wasn’t bad before the Rangers game last week but, after that and Hibs on Tuesday, the spirit has been lifted a lot more and gives us a lot more confidence going into Saturday,” said Smith.

“The fans can be a bit edgy when you’re down the bottom of the league but against Hibs they were great. I’m sure it was a real good night for them and we celebrated with them like I’ve never seen before at this club – but now we’re preparing for Motherwell.

“Experiences like that stick with you and we want to feel that again. With the whole situation we’re in, it was a huge three points at Hibs. The way we played and dominated the game against our city rivals away from home, it was massive. It was a great night to be involved in.

“The dressing room was pumping after. When they came to Tynecastle and beat us [on Boxing Day], their dressing room was pumping and we were down so we gave them a bit back.

“I don’t know what music was playing, I was just dancing about. Conor Washington is on the tunes and sometimes they’re a bit ropey, but it was decent.”

The joy from Tuesday took a hit 24 hours later. Hearts climbed off the foot of the league table to move above Hamilton with their victory in Leith, but the Lanarkshire club executed an odds-defying win of their own away to Rangers on Wednesday. That left those in Edinburgh propping up the division once more.

“It wasn’t great,” smiled Smith. “I thought, or hoped, that Rangers would do us a turn but fair play to Hamilton. They have shown for a few years now that they are definitely up for a fight so it will be interesting to see what happens. We have shown now that we are also up for a fight so we are looking forward to the games coming up.

“We’re not going to take Motherwell lightly, they won 4-1 the other night so fair play. Stephen Robinson has them playing good football.”

Robinson’s Hearts counterpart, Daniel Stendel, is reaping the benefits of a tactical tweak to solidify his defence. That underpinned victories over Rangers and Hibs inside four days.

“As a group, we had a little chat,” explained Smith. “We felt a bit open vulnerable at the back and we’ve solidified. I’ve dropped back into right-back and feel a little bit more comfortable. I’ve helped the lads using my experience.

“We’ve had lots of meetings as defensive units and stuff like that and I think, overall, we’ve come to the decision that it is right to solidify ourselves and let the front six do the work.

“As a full-back I’ll get forward, but only at the right times. As a team we’ll be solid and only press at the right times. We’ll still do the high press but only at the right times when everything is set up right. I feel a lot more solid and speaking Clevid [Dikamona] and Halks [Craig Halkett], they feel a lot more solid. The two boys in the middle have helped us a lot [Loic Damour and Oliver Bozanic].

“As squad of players we probably took the high press a bit too literally and we were just bombing forward at every chance, trying to get the ball. It’s not like that now. We’ve steadied the ship and conceded one goal in the last two against two very good teams. We feel a lot more solid and we can definitely work from that base.”

There are ten league games left and Hearts have no breathing space. Their form is encouraging after only two defeats in the last 11 matches, but Smith knows time is running out.

“The form is not too bad but the league position says otherwise and that is the main thing. We have got to go out and win league games. That is our bread and butter, really. The Scottish Cup is nice and it is good that we have got to another semi-final and won the derby, but I’m sure everyone would like to survive as well. It is down to us to be out onto the pitch and make sure we do that.