Robbie Neilson wants enjoyment back on the menu for Hearts
Head coach Robbie Neilson wants enjoyment back at the top of the menu when Hearts take on Kilmarnock at Tynecastle on Saturday.
The Jambos have won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 defeat at bottom side Dundee United last week, but sit comfortably in third place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Killie are the first of three visitors to Gorgie in a week, preceding Inverness and Partick Thistle, and Neilson wants his players to enjoy the challenge of trying to catch second-placed Aberdeen, who are 11 points ahead having played a game more.
He told Press Association Sport: "We want to create a team here that is enjoying themselves.
"A team that works really hard but do the right things, the energy and enjoyment, players going out and passing it and wanting to take the ball.
"If you watch every team at the moment, it is difficult to sustain that attacking football and passing game because of pitches.
"The pitch at Dundee United last week was really poor, no grass on it, it was windy and difficult to play.
"We tried to pass the ball, we didn't manage it, neither did Dundee United, in Scotland, December, January, February, it is always difficult to play on these surfaces.
"Yes, we want to play great football but without a great surface it is difficult to do that.
"We have three home games coming up in a week at Tynecastle, a good surface, so we can go and play.
"We have the fans behind us, it is a sell-out tomorrow which is great to try to keep pushing on.
"We want to try to get as close as we can to Aberdeen. We missed an opportunity last week but we have still to play them twice and a game in hand so it is definitely in our hands."
Hearts and Killie drew their two previous meetings this season but Neilson will take a replica of their performance against the second-bottom Ayrshire side in the 1-1 draw at Tynecastle last October.
The former Hearts defender said: "The 2-2 game down there was a tough game.
"But I thought we played really well in the game at Tynecastle.
"We should have scored a lot more goals and then lost a goal at the end for a 1-1 draw which was disappointing.
"If we can play the way we did in the Tynecastle game we are more than confident we will win."
New Kilmarnock signing Julien Faubert says he will fight to make Lee Clark stint as Kilmarnock boss a success after becoming the Englishman's first signing.
The former Real Madrid and France defender has agreed a deal until the end of the season after a successful trial.
Faubert, who knocked back a move to St Johnstone, now wants to repay new Rugby Park boss Clark by helping Killie escape the Ladbrokes Premiership play-off zone.
The 32-year-old told STV: "Yes it is special for me [to be Clark's first recruit], he's taken a risk on me and when you feel like that as a player then you can break your neck for him on the pitch. You will fight for him because he has taken a risk on you.
"I will play for the manager, team and chairman because they have given me a contract and I appreciate that because it hasn't been easy since last summer and I want to give them something back.
"I want to play football, I'm hungry to play competitive football and that's why I came here. It's a good opportunity for me to come back to British football."
Faubert, who has been without a club since leaving Bordeaux in the summer, could make his debut at Tynecastle if he gets international clearance through in time.
And Clark hopes his signing will give Kilmarnock a vital lift in their survival battle.
He said: "We're delighted.
"There was a lift when the boys saw him on Monday, you could feel that buzz in the dressing room. Players will be able to learn from him as well."
Left-back Steven Smith (hip) remains out alongside Jamie Hamill (ankle).
Mark Connolly (hip), Chris Johnston (knee) and Darryl Westlake (ankle) are long-term absentees.
Source: PAR
