Hearts v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Tynecastle Stadium
CBSPL - Saturday 22nd December

Good afternoon and welcome to our Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Printing deadlines prevent me from discussing our match against Rangers at Ibrox so I would like to reflect on our last home game with Motherwell.

It wasn't only the weather which was disappointing against them but the result as well and I want to apologise to the fans.

We disappointed the supporters against Motherwell and I was ashamed by that.

It was all going our way but then it disintegrated. It was a similar story against Inverness earlier this season when Andrew Driver had scored to put us in front in the first half but then we had a second half to forget. The coaching staff has noticed we find it difficult to get going in the second half of games. Whether that is because the players are more relaxed I don't know but we are weaker and as a result concede goals and that makes things more difficult for us.

Physically the players are in good shape at the moment, so it must be something else that is wrong. We shouldn't be in the position we are and the time has come to be more demanding of the players. We must produce a higher standard of football.

It has to be a lesson taken very seriously by everyone in the team and some of the players have been told in no uncertain terms that they must improve their standards.

It seems that we are a team which prepares very well for games against the Old Firm, for example, but then when faced with opposition which isn't as illustrious, for some reason there isn't the same attitude shown.

This is an inconsistency which has a knock-on effect on the whole squad as you cannot sustain results week in, week out and we are therefore going through a difficult spell. In order to improve and come out of it, we need more consistency.

Finally I would like to ask for your patience. I can't thank you enough for the support you have given the team this season and it's my intention to make this Festive period a happy one for all connected with Hearts.

Merry Christmas to you all

Anatoly Korobochka