Three draws on the road and you can't honestly say we're in title-winning form. To be fair, other results elsewhere have helped, but that doesn't change the fact we keep making life harder for ourselves. When you're chasing the flag, dropping points away is unforgivable.

Stumble after stumble on the road

There's a rhythm to winning a title and away performances are a big part of it. We keep scraping draws instead of taking control. First halves like the one mentioned are the killer — sloppy, flat and lacking intensity. You can't rely on opponents to do you favours every week. Hearts getting a bit of breathing space is on us as much as it is on them.

Selection and personnel questions

Fans will always debate who should start and who should be on the bench. The point raised about Souttar is blunt and clear: if someone isn't convincing week in, week out then their place becomes a fair topic for discussion. The same goes for Olsen — if he hasn't been firing on all cylinders, it's legitimate to wonder about readiness in a title run. Chermiti coming back into the mix and being used more selectively as a starter against the big games, and a sub elsewhere, sounds sensible to some of us. No one expects miracles, just smart choices that give the team momentum.

Next week matters — no excuses

We need to treat the next game like a cup final. It's not enough to hope rivals slip up; we have to force their hand. Make no mistake, there are uncomfortable questions for the manager and the squad about consistency and mentality. But this is football — answers come on the pitch. Get the result next week and some of the heat dies down. Fail and the pressure only grows.

Truth is, supporters want to see grit, clarity and a plan that doesn't rely on luck. If we tighten up the away displays and make sharper calls on selection, there's still plenty of season left to put this right.

Written by Stromtrooper1: 24 February 2026

Tags: spfl transfers match-review