HEARTS manager Daniel Stendel accepts that tomorrow night’s relegation six-pointer against St Mirren is important in his team’s bid for survival but the German insisted that securing a win is not the be all and end all for his team.

The Gorgie club head to Paisley knowing a defeat would leave them four points adrift of Accies at the foot of the table.

Asked if it was the biggest game of his three-month reign, Stendel said: “No. It is an important game but I don’t want to have the feeling that it is the one and only game that decides it.

“It’s a good chance to bring it all together at the bottom – Ross County, St Mirren, us and Hamilton. We all know how important the game is, but there is no difference between one game and the next.

“After this, we have eight games. It’s an important game, a big chance for us to improve our situation, and we want to use it.”

After beating Rangers and Hibs back-to-back, Hearts came from behind to earn a point in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with third-placed Motherwell at Tynecastle.

Former Barnsley boss Stendel is adamant his team have turned a corner.

He said: “The last couple of games have been really good. We have been defending better as a team. It has given us more chances to win games.

“The situation isn’t really so much better, but the feeling for the team is so much better. We have stabilised our game especially in our defence.”