Next two ties pivotal to season, says Ryan Stevenson

Stevenson helped ensure the mini-revival under Jim Jefferies continued on Sunday as the Tynecastle side beat Hamilton 2-0 to cement their hold on sixth place in the Premier League. The last nine days has seen the gap between a number of teams close dramatically in the top half of the table, with Hearts now just nine points behind third-placed Hibernian.

Full-back Lee Wallace last week insisted Hibs could be caught. Midfielder Stevenson was more cautious but reckons Hearts will have a better idea where their ambitions lie after their upcoming games at Aberdeen and Dundee United. "I'm not really looking at Hibs or anything really above that," said Stevenson, who signed from Ayr on transfer deadline day. "We're just looking at ourselves and doing well, trying to maintain where we are. I think the next two games will be a big test, away to Aberdeen and away to Dundee United. We'll see where we are when we make it through those two games."

The Hamilton win was Hearts' second in a row since Jefferies returned as manager last month.

Keeping that run going into next month could hardly be more difficult, with matches against Motherwell, Hibs and Rangers after the Aberdeen and United games. But former Chelsea trainee Stevenson, 25, believes Jefferies and coaches Billy Brown and Gary Locke have given the side renewed confidence about what they can achieve.

"Him, Billy and Lockey have been excellent," Stevenson said. "He's kind of breathed a bit of fresh air into the team and long may that continue."

Stevenson had a hand in both goals on Sunday but admits he has still to produce his best form in the SPL after spending his entire professional career in the lower leagues. "It's been difficult moving up and getting to know the players, obviously, coming from where I came from," he said. "I'd been at Ayr for a long time, I knew the place inside out, and it's a bit strange when you come from there to Hearts, a club this size. I obviously wanted to get in and show what I could do as quickly as possible."

Hearts revealed striker Gary Glen should be fit for Saturday's trip to Pittodrie

Meanwhile, Hamilton manager Billy Reid insisted Sunday's defeat did not dent his belief his side would avoid relegation this season, despite last place Falkirk's win on Saturday which closed the gap to Accies to just one point

"We can't influence other teams. It's what we do and I'm always a believer in that. We believe we've got good enough players here to turn this around and to start winning games and we will do that, I guarantee it."