Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson has told his players in no uncertain terms that he will not tolerate a drop in standards following Tuesday’s heavy friendly loss to Dundee.
Neilson was more alarmed about the lack of application than the 3-0 result at Dens Park and has vowed to ensure there will be no repeat in their first competitive game of the season in Saturday’s Petrofac Training Cup first round clash at home to Annan.
Hearts rested the likes of captain Danny Wilson, Neil Alexander and Alim Ozturk, while Morgaro Gomis came off the bench in the second half against Paul Hartley’s side.
But Neilson insists there are no excuses for the display he witnessed on Tayside.
He said: “We have standards at this club that we set and we set everyday, but I don’t think we got there against Dundee.
“The boys know that, we’ve spoken about it and it’s important we learn from it and move on. The results aren’t a big thing, it’s more the work rate, doing the right things, the passion.
“It’s doing what we’re asking them to do and I felt we didn’t do it enough. We want to work together, we’ll watch the video and move on.
“We will have set-backs this season, it’s not going to be a season where we go through and everything will be rosy. But it’s important we learn and move on.”
Former Hearts captain Neilson, meanwhile, is hopeful that wingers Sam Nicholson and Billy King will be fit for the visit of League Two side Annan this weekend.
Nicholson had to be replaced in the narrow loss to Manchester City with a groin injury and did not feature against Dundee.
King was replaced in the second half at Dens Park after picking up a thigh strain.
“He just took a knock on his thigh, I don’t envisage that being too much of a problem,” said Neilson.