Jamie McCart met the media to discuss putting last Sunday’s disappointment behind him, settling into Edinburgh life, and returning to the club where he won a domestic double in 2021. Aaron Fraser reports from Oriam:
Last Sunday Heart of Midlothian fell to a 3-1 loss at home to Rangers, in a game where they created a barrowload of chances, yet could not claim three points against Phillipe Clement’s side. Centre back Jamie McCart ended up being credited with two own goals. It was an afternoon to forget for the January arrival, who has been a hit with fans since his £70,000 transfer from Rotherham United.
Despite being disappointed that the result did not end up going Hearts’ way in the end, McCart was adamant there were still plenty of positives to take from the team’s performance.
“Really disappointed, but maybe not as disappointed as you normally come out of the Old Firm games because I think the performance warranted a lot of optimism and a lot of positives. It was just a real frustration that we conceded three unlucky goals and we never took our chances.”
“But I think for going forward in the future, the gaffer said it’s more of the team he wants to see playing week in week out at heart. That style, that aggressive front foot nature, so a lot of positives.”
The 27 year old joked that divine intervention must have caused his extremely bad luck last weekend, but he isn’t someone who dwells on setbacks for particularly long. Sunday’s events are firmly in the rear view mirror, and McCart is already raring to get stuck into his former team St Johnstone.
“It was very unfortunate, I must have annoyed someone somewhere with a voodoo doll. It was just a really disappointing day, but just after it, the overwhelming feeling was how good the performance was and just how unlucky we were. Even their second goal, Adam makes a great block and it falls straight to Cerny who puts it in obviously. It just felt like that, it felt like the small things never went our way and they went in Rangers’ favour, which sometimes happens.”
“That’s maybe my first own goals as well, as a professional, so for two of them to happen in the same game, it’s disappointing. But I mean, I don’t mind it happening to me, I can brush it off and even the first one it didn’t affect me, so it’s just unlucky.”
McCart’s ability to not let such an unfortunate outing affect him is certainly a good characteristic for a defender to have. He has mentally reset this week and is ready for the challenge on Sunday if he is called upon to feature by head coach Neil Critchley.
“Yeah, definitely. I’d reset immediately after it. It’s just one of the things that happen and you’ve got to stay in the moment, especially when you’re playing for a club like Hearts and what you’re trying to do and achieve. The gaffers always try to push each one of us and try to demand the best performance. It demands that any mistakes or things that happen, you’ve got to brush them off.”
Playing for a club of Hearts’ stature has been an experience that McCart has taken to brilliantly since his arrival. The project currently developing at Tynecastle is one that the defender was excited to become a part of, and he has praised his fellow players, the management team, and everyone else involved at the club for making it such an enjoyable experience so far.
“I absolutely loved it. It’s everything I’d hoped for. and more coming to Hearts. When I first heard about it, the big thing was how big a club Hearts are and the ambitions they have. Since I’ve come in, the standards, the club, the management, the players I’ve met, it’s been excellent. I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
Despite being a relative newcomer to Tynecastle, McCart has already become a leading figure in the Hearts back four. He has already lined up beside several centre half partners, and is enjoying taking on the role of being an experienced defender.
“I think with experience and maturity, it’s a role I relish, trying to be a presence or a leader, whether that’s by talking or by performances. I’ll always try to help and push. In the back four it’s maybe changed a wee bit. You’ve got Adz (Forrester) who’s obviously young and playing first team recently for the first time. It’s something I do relish.”
The McDiarmid Park faithful will forever celebrate the role McCart played in their historic double-winning campaign in 2020/21. He is a living legend in Perth and was full of praise for his former employers.
“It was a privilege to be part of such a special team and achievement for the club. It really was just an honour to be part of the team that was successful for them. Like I said, everyone around the club, the supporters, were brilliant with me during my time there.
After a rocky first half of the season, Hearts are steadily improving, and could make a late push for the top six. Despite still being far away from where they want to be. McCart
“The expectation from the outside is that Hearts should be up there, right behind the Old Firm, so that’s what we’ve got to expect of ourselves. That’s what the gaffer’s pushing for. Every day he demands high standards in training and he’s trying to push for the team that we want to be. It has been an upward curve, but you’ve got to be consistent with that. It can’t just be eight games unbeaten. You’ve got to look to stretch that out and keep winning games.
