Key games of 2009/2010 that shaped Hearts' season

An inspired victory which ended a run of nine-consecutive league games without a win. Michael Stewart's penalty and Ismael Bouzid's header overhauled Georgios Samaras' 21st-minute opener. Part of a seven-game unbeaten run throughout the festive period which lifted Hearts into the top six.

27 January

Hearts 0-3 Aberdeen

Csaba Laszlo's final game as manager, and a disaster from start to finish. Fraser Fyvie, Darren Mackie and Derek Young scored as Hearts surrendered their unbeaten run all too meekly. Two days later, Laszlo was sacked and replaced by Jim Jefferies.

13 February

Hearts 3-2 Falkirk

Jefferies' first win since returning to Tynecastle took place on Steven Pressley's managerial debut. It was a game Hearts could not afford to lose given the magnitude of the occasion for their former captain, and goals from Lee Wallace, Suso and an Ian Black piledriver secured all three points.

10 April

Hearts 1-0 Kilmarnock

Suso's strike on 31 minutes ensured a top-six place on a nervous afternoon at Tynecastle. Jefferies' main aim after replacing Laszlo had been achieved, and at that point Euro qualification was entirely possible.

1 May

Hibernian 1-2 Hearts

Perhaps the one match from the campaign which provides most satisfaction for Hearts supporters. Suso, again, and David Obua secured a come-from-behind victory at the home of the club's greatest rivals and offered a note of intent ahead of next season. European qualification did not ultimately happen but club management were already planning for the future.