Robbie Neilson was only in his first full season as a top team regular when Hearts last secured back-to-back top three finishes. That was back in 2003-04 and the man now in charge of the Jambos reckons curing their away day blues is key to repeating the feat 19 years later and cementing their place as Scotland’s third force.
Hearts take a Christmas Eve trip to Tayside to face Dundee United tomorrow before heading to take on St Johnstone next midweek having not won in Perth for 12 years. Momentum is with the Gorgie side who have seen Aberdeen slump to two defeats in the past week while Hearts returned from the World Cup break with a comfortable 3-1 home win over Kilmarnock.
But with just two victories from eight league games on their travels this season - three from 12 in all competitions - Neilson knows where the biggest improvement needs to come. He said: “Everyone can beat each other. If we can go on a sustained run of wins then it can take us away from everyone.
