In the first game of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership, Hearts are set to host Rangers at Tynecastle Park and both will hope Saturday’s match can be the start of a sustained title charge.
The home side finished third last term with 68 points from 38 games, while the visitors finished second with 85 points, eight behind eventual champions Celtic.
The hosts will have been delighted with their 2023-24 campaign considering they accumulated 14 more points than they did in 2022-23.
Hearts also conceded 42 goals last term, 15 fewer than in the previous campaign.
Their home record in the league since December 23 has been strong, and they were unbeaten in their last 11 Premiership games at Tynecastle Park.
That run also included a 2-0 win over Celtic on March 3 and a 3-3 draw against Rangers on May 18.
It should be noted though that Hearts’ overall record at the end of the season was quite poor, and the club only won once in their last six games in all competitions.
Last term was manager Steven Naismith’s first full season in charge of the Jam Tarts, and was in fact his first ever full campaign as head coach at any club.
The Scotsman was only officially given the position of head coach on September 6 after his side were eliminated from the Europa League, and since then he boasts a record of 23 wins, seven draws and 10 losses.
