Fitness and the Front Four: We’re Still In This

Took the three points at Paisley and that should be enough to quiet the doom-mongers. Front four need sharper pressing and finishing, while fitness is the real summer headache for Danny to fix.

To be fair, coming away from Paisley with three points was the kind of away day you take and don't complain about. Plenty moaned afterwards, but the truth is it was a useful win and we didn't look in any real danger. There are things to tidy up, yes — mainly up front and in how hard we run — but what we have still looks capable of getting over the line.

A useful three points and why the noise is overdone

Paisley is never an easy place to go. It's tight, can be scrappy, and you know it won't be comfortable. We left with the points and without many scares, which matters. You can see why fans wanted a bit more fluency or a killer touch in the final third, especially when decent balls were being put in from out wide. But wins away from home don't come by accident — you take them, grind them out, and move on.

Front four: closing down and positioning

The front four didn't really click into gear. My main gripe is the lack of consistent closing down of opposing defenders and not being in the best scoring positions more often. When the wide men delivered, the runs into the box could have been sharper. It's not just one player's fault — it's a collective thing. Better communication, timing of runs, and an extra yard of urgency would turn a few half-chances into clear-cut opportunities. Simple stuff, but it makes a difference.

Fitness, summer work and keeping the pressure up

Fitness is the big picture here. We have clearly dropped off a bit since Clement's time and that's Danny's biggest challenge to sort in the close season. Expect squad churn — loans end, contracts run out, a couple will leave for cash if needed — but don't let that feed panic. What we've got, right now, is good enough to win the league if we tighten up the running and the work-rate.

Hearts look shaky and even the other lot across the city have been scraping by. So keep belief. If the players up front start pressing like they mean it and the fitness improves, those marginal games will shift our way. I'm not getting carried away, just hopeful — and convinced we've still got a proper shot.

Written by BearAbroad22: 22 April 2026