Hearts are storming ahead as Scotland's third force because Ann Budge held her nerve - Ryan Stevenson

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Darvel? Even my Glenafton side drew with them in our only meeting so far this season. If Jim Goodwin needed any pointers before heading down to deepest Ayrshire he only had to ask.But in all seriousness, while Mick Kennedy’s team are the benchmark for our level and proved it on Monday, there’s no getting away from the fact that’s a shocker for Aberdeen.

And the sticky situation Goodwin finds himself in this week has brought back pretty brutal memories from Hearts not so long ago.Twenty two months to be precise when Robbie Neilson and Ann Budge came under attack from supporters convinced they were taking the club down a road to ruin.

A Scottish Cup debacle at Brora Rangers was every bit as bad as Aberdeen’s Darvel disaster. Hearts then followed that defeat up with a home loss to Queen of the South in the Championship where there were protests before the game even started never mind afterwards.It was pretty volatile and felt like the end for Robbie even though they were still top of the second tier.

Looking back he did well to get through it and Ann Budge did even better to hold her nerve. But that defines a good club.Look at Everton where they keep changing manager and get no further forward.