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Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 1
Aug 4, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Hearts logo

3-2

Cosgrove (13', 80' pen.), Hedges (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Naismith (68'), Walker (76')
Hickey (79')

Levein backs Hearts to rediscover killer touch ahead of Premiership opener

Levein backs Hearts to rediscover killer touch ahead of Premiership opener
© Reuters
Hearts have not been shy in getting forward in their first two Betfred Cup clashes.

Craig Levein expects Hearts to rediscover their killer touch in time for their opening Ladbrokes Premiership duel with Aberdeen.

The Jambos, who kick off their league campaign away to the Dons a week on Sunday, have not been shy in getting forward in their first two Betfred Cup clashes.

But despite creating plenty of openings against Dundee United and Cowdenbeath, they have found the net just three times.

Levein, though, is confident his side will have sharpened up in front of goal by the time they face Derek McInnes' team at Pittodrie.

The Hearts boss – whose side welcome Stenhousemuir to Tynecastle for their penultimate Group A clash on Wednesday night – said: "We've been good. We've played well in both matches in fairly long spells.

"We've created an awful lot of chances – we haven't taken as many as we would like, of course, but that's something we can work on in training.

"It's a very short time between coming back and playing our first competitive match but I've been relatively happy with the way things have gone so far."

Levein is hopeful Steven Naismith will be back fit and able to finally make last season's loan switch from Norwich into a permanent arrangement before the Aberdeen clash.

But Peter Haring appears to be in for a further two-month wait before he can return from a niggling pelvic problem.

Conor Washington and Harry Cochrane could also sit out the Stenny showdown, although Levein is not overly concerned.

"Conor's back's a bit tight, so is Harry's," he explained. "That's why they weren't involved at the weekend – it's not a major problem – and I don't know if either of them will be fit to play on Wednesday.

"But I'm sure if they don't play on Wednesday they will be fit to play at the weekend."

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Greg Stewart in action for Aberdeen on May 13, 2018
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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