Hearts will be looking to climb off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table when they welcome Dundee to Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon.
While the Jam Tarts have failed to win their last four home matches in all competitions, the Dark Blues have come out on top in just one of their last 10 away league fixtures since April.
Match preview
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After steering Hearts to three wins in his first five matches, head coach Neil Critchley has since overseen a disappointing run of five games without a win across all competitions.
The Jam Tarts' four-game losing streak was ended last weekend when then shared the spoils with Aberdeen in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle. A second-half own goal from Nicky Devlin cancelled out a first-half opener from Leighton Clarkson.
Just 10 points have been accumulated across Hearts' opening 15 Premiership matches and they subsequently sit rock bottom of the 12-team table, but a victory on Saturday would see them leapfrog Edinburgh rivals Hibernian if they were to lose to leaders Celtic.
Hearts will fancy their chances of success against Dundee, as they have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership home meetings with the Dark Blues, including a 3-0 victory in May of last season.
However, Dundee got the better of Hearts when the two teams butted heads at Dens Park in August, with Scott Tiffoney, Luke McCowan and an own goal from Gerald Taylor securing a 3-1 win on matchday two.
Following a miserable run of six defeats in seven Premiership matches between September 14 and October 30, Dundee have since picked up 10 points across their last five fixtures, most recently beating Motherwell 4-1 on home soil on Wednesday.
Tony Docherty was full of praise for his side after their "fabulous win" that has seen them climb to fifth in the top-flight standings, nine points ahead of Saturday's opponents Hearts and four points behind rivals Dundee United in fourth.
Dundee, who are looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since March, have won three of their last six top-flight encounters against Hearts (L3), as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W3 D3 L8).
Team News
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Hearts duo Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent were forced off with respective hamstring and quad injuries in last weekend's draw with Aberdeen and have emerged as major doubts, while Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) and Gerald Taylor (knee) remain sidelined.
After scoring 21 Premiership goals in 32 games last season, Lawrence Shankland has only found the net once in 15 matches so far this term, but he is still expected to lead the line for the Jam Tarts and could be joined in attack by Kenneth Vargas, Blair Spittal and Alan Forrest.
As for Dundee, Clark Robertson (thigh), Ziyad Larkeche (hamstring) and Scott Fraser (groin) all remain sidelined with injuries along with long-term absentee Joe Shaughnessy (knee).
Lyall Cameron and Oluwaseun Adewumi were both on the scoresheet in midweek and are expected to retain their places in the final third along with top scorer Simon Murray, who has netted eight times so far this season.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Oyegoke, Halkett, Rowles, Penrice; Devlin, Baningime; Vargas, Spittal, Forrest; Shankland
Dundee possible starting lineup:
McCracken; Astley, Portales, Koumetio; Mulligan, McGhee, Sylla, Tiffoney; Cameron; Adewumi, Murray
We say: Hearts 1-1 Dundee
Taking into account Dundee's upturn in form and Hearts' five-game winless run, the visitors can be considered as favourites to come out on top on Saturday. However, we feel that the hosts will find a way to claim at least a share of the spoils in front of their own fans.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
