Credit to McInnes as bold call helps ensure leaders aren't toppled

[BBC]

Hearts have been top of the Scottish Premiership for all but one of the past 166 days.

With no league action this weekend, I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing my nerves are safe with Hearts at the summit.

I'll need the time to decompress after the 3-1 home win against everyone's adopted second team, Motherwell.

The Steelmen have rightly taken plaudits for their style of play this season but Jens Berthel Askou's men will also win the best dramatic performance award in 2026, months before the Edinburgh Fringe.

Of course, it's a clear penalty for the kick to Pierre Landry Kabore's skull. My frustration isn't with Old Firm or Hibs supporters claiming they know the rules better than Ifab and Kabore should have been booked for dangerous play, it's the fact referee Matthew MacDermid didn't initially see the incident.

I know VAR gets regularly panned by pundits and supporters, but the intervention from Steven McLean thankfully ensured justice prevailed.

The match could have gone differently had Tawanda Maswanhise not spurned a glorious opportunity to put Motherwell 2-1 up, but even taking my maroon specs off, Hearts did enough to earn victory.

Enormous credit to Derek McInnes for his in-game management. I wanted more proactivity last week; the switch to 4-2-4 after the hour, at 1-1 against Motherwell, was exactly that.

Throwing on Kabore and Sabah Kerjota on the right, with Claudio Braga left, was bold - maybe too bold for some - with 30 minutes left.

It paid off. Kerjota used the extended runout well and Kabore's late goal felt like the reward for giving him ample time to find his rhythm.

Now McInnes has a welcome selection headache for the final five games.

Kabore suddenly looks a genuine option with confidence and goal threat, while Kerjota is pushing hard to start for the first time in maroon.

Add Marc Leonard back after suspension and, finally, the matchday squad is trending the right way.