Our performances need to improve

Goalkeeper Paul Gallacher knows the team's performance needs to improve and the defence needs to tighten up.

Goalkeeper Paul Gallacher knows the team's performance needs to improve and the defence needs to tighten up. He says,:-

"We're making mistakes and we're getting punished. Some teams seem to get away with some mistakes but for us, it seems that every mistake we make sees the ball end up in the back of the net and it's killing us at the moment. We're losing goals thick and fast and it is worrying, but we work hard in training and watch the footage on video and try to rectify these things. It's going to be a long season but hopefully we'll get there in the end with a lot of hard work"

Paul knows that set pieces are a problem at the moment and when compounded with losing an early goal, it gives the team a mountain to climb:-

"We didn't do well with set pieces in the first half and that is something we need to work on as individuals. But we're trying to put a performance on and get a off to a good start, but its not easy when you lose an early goal."

"We did create a few chances in the first half but we've not taken them and there were a few headers we should have defended better. Hearts took their chances and got four of them. Goals happen, but if we had defended better we could have maybe stopped one or two of them."

Hearts found a number of holes in the defence from distance, something Paul believes happens when you've already got a couple of goals in the net:-

"When they've got a few goals they're obviously buzzing and testing us by shooting from distance. It's the sort of thing that teams do when they've got a bit of a cushion and it means we've got to defend better."

Paul hopes Pars fans get an early Christmas present next weekend regardless of whether he's available to play after getting a knock to his shoulder:-

"We came here today in positive spirits but it wasn't to be and so now we need to focus on the next game. It's a vital game for us next week and three points is what we're looking for - whether I'm playing or not doesn't matter."