Beni Baningime has had a "frustrating" few weeks since picking up a red card last month.
The Heart of Midlothian midfielder was sent off early in the 2-0 win over St Mirren at Tynecastle and was forced to sit out the next two league games.
He made his return in Tuesday’s defeat, coincidentally against the same opponent. Ironically, they picked up another first-half red card, this time for the captain on the night Craig Halkett.
There have now been five red cards in the last five Hearts matches, three of those for the Gogie outfit.
Though after back-to-back wins with 10 men last month, they were unable to complete a hat-trick of such victories in Paisley on Tuesday night. They went one worse, conceding to a late Miguel Freckleton header in just their third defeat of the Scottish Premiership league season.
Rangers’ subsequent 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Wednesday night narrowed the gap at the top of the league, as well as the goal difference.
Before the midweek fixture card, Hearts responded well to Baningime’s suspension, which came around the same time as key players Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin were ruled out for up to two months – a draw with Celtic was followed by a win at Dundee United.
Banigime found it difficult being a mere spectator for those games but was happy to see his team cope well without him.
“It's been frustrating for sure, as an individual,” he said. “But I think we've got a great depth. It didn't look like they missed me at all, and that's a good thing.
“That's what we have. We're going to miss Halks. We're going to miss Cammy and Shanks, but I think that's the depth we have.
“Even when I was out, it didn't look like we were missing me. These are great players and they're a big reason why we are successful. But I think we have boys who are going to stand up to it and they have to rise up and take the opportunity, for sure.”
When the midfielder picked up his suspension and Devlin went down in the same game, it added to the injuries already keeping Oisin McEntee, Ageu and Calem Nieuwenhof sidelined.
That forced Hearts into the transfer market ahead of that Celtic fixture. After a shaky start on his debut, Marc Leonard took the game by the scruff of the neck and was a big reason for Hearts’ domination after half time.
The Birmingham City loanee put in another excellent performance at Tannadice before being paired with Baningime on Tuesday night.
“He's a great player. He's a very, very great player. One of the biggest things is that, you can see his quality,” said Baningime.
“One of the biggest things that impresses me is off the ball. He understands this league, being from here. He understands the club. He understands the culture of it. He's fitted into the club like a glove.
“That's the greatest compliment I can give. He's such a great player. But I think more so than that, he's coming into a team that's doing very well and just fitting in straight away.
“It's not easy at all. But his character and his ability speaks for itself.”
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Hearts are still in the driving seat to pick up their first top-flight league title in 66 years but face a testing six days next week.
After a free weekend, they host Hibernian in Tuesday night’s Edinburgh derby before their second trip to Ibrox to face a resurgent Rangers, now just three points behind.
They will have to cut out the errors that have seen three of their players dismissed in recent weeks if they are to have any chance in those matches, according to Baningime.
Questions are now being asked of his side’s resolve but, as pointed out by the 27-year-old, those questions have been posed of this Hearts side since they raced to the top of the Premiership.
The midfielder sees the derby as the perfect fixture to respond to this week’s disappointment.
“The next two games are massive. Hibs then Rangers,” he said. “Ultimately, for us right now, we need to stand up as men, we need to respond and we've done that all season. Hopefully it's the same thing.
“The questions have been going on for what… since September? The gaffer and the staff tell us ultimately it doesn't matter what everyone thinks. It's what we're doing.
“These are things that happen. I watch the Premier League and Arsenal drop points. That's football – you're going to drop points.
“Ultimately, it's how you respond. It's not about what anyone's saying out there. It's about us, it's about what we're doing and trying to make this season as special as possible. Hopefully we can do that.”
He added: “Hibs are going to want to put us in our place. Right now we have to evaluate. Take a few days.
“As soon as you come back in, the next time it's done. That's the only way. That's the way the best teams do it.
“There are going to be challenges along the way. But everything that was spoken about in the changing room was along the lines of ‘Boys, you've got a day off. Clear your head. Think about the game. Let it hurt. Use that feeling to drive you as much as possible. But ultimately, as soon as you come back in, when we're next in, that loss has to be gone because you can't carry it into a derby because the derby's going to be intense. They're a great side.’
“In the derbies, it actually doesn't matter where the teams are in the league. It's going to be a derby and we need everyone to be ready to step up.”
