Gary Mackay: Loss to United flags up need for creative spark

LET'S keep things in perspective – considering all the players we were missing, losing to Dundee United was no disaster.

But what yesterday's game did underline for the umpteenth time this season is that we are crying out for some creativity and spark.

The defensive side of things is fine – that is proved by the fact we have the best defensive record in the league outside the Old Firm. But it's now imperative that we become a more adventurous and potent side in the final third.

Between now and the end of the season, the management will have to look at developing the side as an attacking force.

In the first half we showed real passion and resilience but, regardless of the desire, determination and workrate, ultimately you do need a bit of quality in the final third to create things and win a football match, and we have been sadly lacking in that department this season.

The absence of Andrew Driver is obviously a big setback on that front, but the general lack of creativity throughout the squad must be addressed between now and the start of next season.

If we can continue to be solid at the back, but also become more of a threat at the other end then we'll obviously become a far more accomplished side.

I think yesterday highlighted that perfectly.

Given the starting line-up, especially after Michael Stewart had to pull out, I don't think many Hearts fans held out much hope of getting a result yesterday.

But, even with a reshuffled back four, we still defended really well and showed the type of spirit you'll always get from a side run by Jim Jefferies, Billy Brown and Gary Locke.

We had one or two half chances in the first half. However, I just felt that at the start of the second half it was obvious that Dundee United had upped the ante.

And, as soon as they went ahead, you never felt there was any chance of us getting back into the match, which is disappointing.

Michael's influence as captain was obviously missed, but I think young Paul Mulrooney deserves real credit for the way he acquitted himself.

He did exceptionally well considering he was thrown in at the deep end with just half an hour's notice. Another positive from yesterday was seeing Jose Goncalves back in the team.

Full credit to Jose, I don't think he's trained much but he did well. I've made it clear before that I think he should never have been sidelined in the first place, so it was nice to see him back, even if it does turn out to be just a one-off.

It's just such a shame that we had to go into yesterday's game with such a depleted squad.

We were in a position where, if we had been able to got to Tannadice with a stronger team and come away with a victory, then we would have been right back in the mix for a European place.

But I think we have to be realistic. As Csaba Laszlo said when he was in charge, and as Jim said when he arrived, the realistic target for Hearts this season, considering the personnel available and the nature of the season, has to be simply to make sure we finish in the top six.

Once you get into the top six, you can then set another goal for the remaining few games of the season. It would have been nice to have won yesterday and kept United and Hibs in our sights but, if we are to keep alive any hopes of a European place, it is now imperative that we get something from our next two games against Motherwell and Hibs– the two teams directly above us.

There's not a lot between any of the teams but Motherwell have turned their season round under Craig Brown and Archie Knox, while they have a player in Jim O'Brien who I would love to see in a Hearts jersey next season.

It doesn't need me to say it will be another really hard game.