Steven Naismith admits Hearts’ next three matches will go a long way to deciding whether he is considered for the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
The 36-year-old former Jambos skipper was handed the reins last month until the end of the season following the sacking of Robbie Neilson.
Hearts, who are five points behind Aberdeen in the battle for third place in the cinch Premiership, have taken four points from four matches under Naismith, whose side finish the campaign with home games against the Dons and city rivals Hibernian either side of a trip to Rangers next Wednesday.
“Without a shadow of a doubt,” said Naismith when asked if he expects the remaining matches to impact on what the Hearts board choose to do next.
“All along, the club asked me to take the team until the end of the season and then we’ll review things at the end of the season.
“We’re halfway along that, and these next three games are without doubt going to have an impact on what happens.
“That might not just be on results, it’s about our performances, the way we play, how we do in the games. There’s loads of aspects to what decision will be made by the club.
“For me, it’s been a brilliant experience so far. I’ve loved every minute of it and I think I’ve done a good job so far.”
Asked if he wants to continue in the role, Naismith – who had been working as Hearts B team manager since hanging up his boots – said: “I‘ll decide that probably at the end of the season.
“It’s been great, I’ve loved it, there’s not been many negatives at all. But I’ve always said the decision needs to be right for me about when I’m going to be a manager and where that is. I’m trying not to get too carried away one way or another.
“There’s been no talks about anything beyond this season and I’m comfortable with it that way.”
Naismith expressed concern about the ongoing struggles with VAR’s implementation in Scottish football after Hearts midfielder Peter Haring had his red card in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with St Mirren downgraded to a yellow upon appeal this week.
The interim manager remains baffled that VAR did not ask referee David Dickinson to review the Austrian’s challenge on Mark O’Hara at a time when Hearts were trailing 2-1.
“The biggest disappointment for me is that our last two games have had an impact from VAR and on both accounts I feel they’ve not been right,” said Naismith.
“The first week (when Alex Cochrane was sent off against Celtic after being deemed to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity) it steps in and makes a call and the decision was made.
“And then the total lack of consistency last week (that VAR did not intervene). I was right in front of the decision on Saturday and I could see it was not a red card.
“The fourth official was right next to me, the ref was up with play and the assistant referee was on the side of pitch, and all had great views of the incident.
“They all missed it and the decision was made. But then we’ve got the fail-safe (of VAR) that hopefully gets all these big decisions right, and for that to fail as well is really disappointing.
“It makes people not believe in it. Before this came in we knew there was going to be teething issues but it seems to be all season it’s been like this, which is disappointing.”
Ten Hag bemoans late Burnley equaliser - 'It's so unnecessary'
Erik ten Hag was left frustrated as Manchester United "gave it away" against a spirited Burnley, who held them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were on course to claim all three points when Antony pounced on Sander Berge's error to open the scoring in the 79th minute, as they looked to close the gap on fifth-place Tottenham to four points.
However, the hosts could not hold on as Andre Onana was penalised for a foul on Zeki Amdouni, who picked himself up to level from the penalty spot and salvage a point for the visitors three minutes from time.
Ten Hag was made to rue his side's wastefulness as they converted just one of their 27 shots on goal throughout the contest.
"We put ourselves in a winning position and, over long courses of the game, we dominated," he told the BBC. "We played some good football - creating loads of chances - and then to give it away in the end in the final minutes, it's so unnecessary.
"Every team gives up opportunities. But, when it is up to us, it is weird. We created loads of chances as well. We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment. We are creating loads of chances by playing good football.
"We lost control in the second part of the first half when we conceded some chances, but the rest of the game was ours. We were in a winning position, and we gave it away."
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany saluted the character demonstrated by Burnley, who boosted their Premier League survival hopes by moving to within two points of safety with three games remaining.
"We are where we are in the league for a reason, so not everything can be perfect, but the mentality was perfect - the togetherness, the sacrifice for each other," the Clarets boss said.
"There is tremendous consistency in the club and the approach to each game, even in tough times. We've earned the right to believe and hope."
RB Leipzig 4-1 Borussia Dortmund: Hosts strengthen grip on fourth with crushing win
Champions League semi-finalists Borussia Dortmund suffered a crushing 4-1 Bundesliga defeat at the hands of RB Leipzig on Saturday, denting their hopes of a top-four finish.
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho put Dortmund ahead after 20 minutes with a curling effort from the left corner of the box, but Edin Terzic's team couldn't hold on.
Lois Openda levelled within three minutes, and Benjamin Sesko pounced with a close-range finish to put Leipzig ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Mohamed Simakan made it 3-1 just one minute after the restart, then Christoph Baumgartner came off the bench to add a fourth with 10 minutes to play.
Dortmund, who host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday, stay fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Leipzig.
They will likely have to wait on confirmation of Germany earning a fifth Champions League qualification place for next season, which was made more likely by a dismal set of results for England's clubs throughout the European quarter-finals earlier this month.
Data Debrief: Dynamic duo lead Leipzig to victory
Goals from Openda and Sesko ensured Leipzig turned Saturday's game around before the halfway point, both players netting in their fourth successive Bundesliga game together.
They are the first pair of team-mates to achieve that feat since Dortmund's Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did so in February 2015.
Salah: There will be 'fire' if I speak after Klopp clash
Mohamed Salah refused to talk to the media following a touchline clash with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, saying there would be "fire" if he spoke.
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes are hanging by a thread following a 2-2 draw at West Ham on Saturday, and much of the discussion after the game centered on a flare-up between Salah and Klopp in the latter stages of the contest.
Salah, dropped from the starting XI for the visit to the London Stadium, was involved in a furious confrontation with Klopp prior to being substituted on, with the pair having to be separated by Joe Gomez and Darwin Nunez.
Following the game, Salah made a comment as he walked through the media area, refusing to conduct interviews with the press.
"If I speak today there will be fire," Salah stated as he refused to discuss the incident.
Klopp was also not very forthcoming on the confrontation after a draw which leaves his team two points off leaders Arsenal and a point behind second-placed Manchester City having played at least a game less than both of their title rivals.
When asked about the Salah dispute, Klopp told TNT Sports: "I'm not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all."
Klopp has just three games left of his Liverpool tenure, and despite the success he has endured at Anfield, including a Premier League title and Champions League glory, it's at risk of ending in a damp squib.
Klopp hopes his team can avoid that disappointing conclusion by finding their form again over the remainder of the campaign.
"We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn't," Klopp continued. "Now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game.
"We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again."
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