Hearts | Preview with Jayden

Jayden Stockley |

“Hearts are a big club and we have had a couple of tough battles against them this season. We had a great performance at their place just before the winter break. The match early on in the season up here was a tough game so we are expecting more of the same. There has only been one goal scored in the two games so far.

“I know they are still finding their feet since the new manager came in but they had a great result last week. They are a team we treat with a lot of respect. But we will also concentrate on ourselves and focus on what we can bring to the game. I am sure it will be a good game.

“It was close between ourselves and Hearts and the start of the season (regards league position) but having a change of manager during a campaign is going to be tough for any club. They have had a lot to deal with it terms of that but they are still a good side with good players. It will be a very tough game.

“We are extremely confident here on what we are doing and what we want to achieve. The confidence in the dressing room is very high.

“We were made aware of the unbeaten record of home games and how we can match what the 86’ team did if we get nine home wins. Aberdeen teams from the past, especially from that era, have enjoyed huge success so to get ranked alongside them is something positive for today’s team.

“Every game we go out to get the three points and don’t worry about what other teams are doing or worry about other games. We just fully concentrate on ourselves and the impact the result will have on us.

“The competition for places in the first team is very strong. Over the past couple of months, the subs have helped massively to make an impact in games. We won a lot of games towards the end and that shows the strength in depth we have. It has been me a couple of times (scoring late winners) and hopefully I am finding a bit of form. Hopefully I can show what I can do and you have to play well to keep the shirt. That is what the gaffer gets across to all the players.

“Last season I played a lot of games but moving to a different league, it does take a while to adapt. I have to realise I am at a big club now. The key thing for me is to take my chance when I get an opportunity. The team did brilliantly late December, January, February so I had to be patient. I was doing well in training so it does get frustrating on a personal level but at the same time you are buzzing for your team mates. You are pleased the team is doing so well. We are a team and we achieve things together. We are in another semi-final and that is down to everyone’s hard work. You would not be anywhere without your team mates.

“Once you do get into the starting XI it then up to you. It is up to you to keep the shirt because there will be someone else in the squad who will want it as badly as you.

“We have not dropped too many points recently. The only blip was at Hamilton but I thought we deserved to take something from that game. It is about keeping your concentration. It has been shown in this league that if you slip up then teams will capitalise on it. We have to keep churning the results out and it is up to us to stay on our toes. We have to keep getting the wins and keep ticking the games off.

“I have been on the periphery of a few successful teams down south and the spirit and the togetherness we have here reminds me of that. Everyone mixes well together. Every person in the squad gets along. There are no bad eggs in the dressing room and the relationships we have helps us out on the pitch. You can see that with the celebrations. It means a lot to us.

“If you have a bad result before the international break it leaves you a bit annoyed for a while. We want to put in a really good performance so we can enjoy the break even more. That is a bit of motivation for us.”