Neil Critchley swerves the buzzwords and bulls*** as something Hearts boss did after Killie won me over – Ryan Stevenson.

Stevo admits he might have got it wrong about the new boss initially – despite a poor result at the weekend.

After losing to Kilmarnock, Hearts are at the bottom of the table, which may seem unlikely. However, I am even more optimistic about the side’s future under Neil Critchley.

I was skeptical of his nomination, owing mostly to the discussion of algorithms, since I assumed we would be assigned one of these buzzword-laden trainers. But Critchley swiftly won me over, and not only for the instant effects. A rookie manager’s bounce is common, but the manner he handled it pleased me. He emphasized the importance of winning fights before playing, which Hearts successfully accomplished against St Mirren, Omonia, and Hibs.

He went with two up front, which I liked, and talked about playing the “Hearts way”. But there was part of me that wanted to watch how he handled his first setback. And we received our answers on Wednesday night. Critchley responded well to the reality check against Kilmarnock.

There was no sugar-coating, no mealy-mouthed protection for the athletes. He called it like he saw it, which was precisely what I wanted to hear. He conceded the defense was inadequate, but it may not have done any harm in the near run after witnessing it for himself.

Throughout the season, the defense has fallen short. We understand there are goalscoring concerns, but the manager must first make Hearts difficult to defeat.

They are currently way too easy to play against. That is something he will have to fix, but it is also up to the players.

They must desire to perform the hard work, the mundane tasks that may make life difficult for clubs in this competition.

Killie were an ideal league test for him. The Rugby Park team underperformed at the start of the season, however this was likely due to being stretched by European games.

The team has an excellent manager, Derek McInnes, and a well-trained group. They understand how to remain in games and come back to win, even after falling down.

Look at the winning goal from the other night. It was an easy, long throw. Win the first ball, then win the second and bury the third.

That’s what Hearts has to do: go back to fundamentals and develop from there. What about the opposite end of the pitch? You cannot ignore the elephant in the room. Lawrence Shankland has gone another game without a goal, and some are wondering, “When does this become a concern?”

The solution is now. Listen, I’m sure Lawrence is tired of picking up his Record and hearing me rant about him every week. Last season, it was because he was so terrific; this year, it’s because he’s not scoring. However, going from a 33-goal season to scoring only once before November is a problem.

I feel for him. All attackers have tough times when things aren’t going their way, and it almost feels like he’s pushing too hard.

But he really needs assistance. I had to giggle when Kenneth Vargas cupped his ear after scoring against St Mirren. Mate, it’s your first goal of the season, and it’s October; you’re not silencing the naysayers.

He should be in double figures, and if he’s getting flack at that point, he’s entitled to celebrate whatever he wants.

The emergence of James Wilson provides some optimism, and maybe he can contribute with a few more goals. He appears to have the skills, but he is still just 17, so he will need to be guided.

It is up to others to stand up and absorb part of Lawrence’s weight. They’d better do it swiftly too. It’s ludicrous to see Hearts near the bottom of the standings this time of year. However, they cannot just expect things to click.

If I were in the dressing room, I would be working hard to break out of this circumstance and prove to the management that I am worth keeping beyond the January window. The clock is ticking, the long winter months are harsh, and it’s easy to get distant.

The good news is that after Wednesday night, Critchley will be able to learn more about this group and take action. It is up to the players to form up and sort it.

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