Neil Critchley: Hearts have top six place in our own hands

Hearts manager Neil Critchley has urged his side to take an attacking approach to their two remaining pre-split games, stressing that a place in the top half is theirs to lose.

The Tynecastle side welcome Dundee United on Sunday, knowing that anything other than a win could put their ambitions in danger.

Critchley says he’s excited by his first experience of a league split and the games to come, and that everyone knows what is at stake.

“We’re attacking these games with positivity and optimism,” he said. “I’ve never been involved in a split before.

“It’s exciting, we know what we need to do. It’s in our hands, which is positive. We know we have two tough fixtures, but it’s all to play for.

“Hopefully after this round of games it’s still in our hands. We play on Sunday, other teams play before us, so we’ll know where we are and what we need to do.”

Critchley is expecting a tough test against a Dundee United side who have impressed this season and are already all but sure of their place in the top six on their first season back in the Premiership.

“Obviously, you’re getting promoted and you have that momentum sometimes, and that feel-good factor,” he said. “Jim’s obviously a very experienced manager, and they’ve done incredibly well. It was such a close, tough game we had against them away from home, fine margins on the day, and we’re expecting nothing more than a really tough, awkward game on Sunday.

“They went to Aberdeen a few weeks ago and got a good point there. They’ve bounced back from a derby defeat and won at Ross County, and that’s obviously another tough place to go to, a clean sheet and winning the game.

“I’m sure they’ll be in good spirits and they’re in front of us, so it’s up to us to be the home team and try to take the game to them. “