Losing high-stakes matches can often prompt intense, reactionary fallout, with Hearts' away form coming into sharp focus after Saturday's defeat at struggling Kilmarnock.
The Scottish Premiership leaders' league form on the road is now the division's third best but is just two points worse off than Rangers, who have the best record in the top flight.
However, are Hearts fans seeing a worrying recent trend in away games that could derail their title charge?
Derek McInnes' men have the best home form in the Premiership, with a stellar unbeaten record of 11 wins and four draws from 15 matches.
Away from Tynecastle, though, they have lost their past three fixtures – at St Mirren, Rangers and Kilmarnock. Throw in December's derby defeat at Hibernian, and Hearts have suffered defeat in four of their past six away games.
In fact, after starting the season with four straight victories on the road, they have won just four of the following 11.
Hearts have only one pre-split away fixture remaining. That comes at bottom side Livingston, who have won just once all season but have recently held Rangers and Hibs to draws and were denied a point at Celtic in stoppage time last month.
Post-split scheduling will no doubt cause controversy, given the Gorgie side will have hosted Hibs, Motherwell and Falkirk twice by the time the league is cut in half.
However, trips to Easter Road and Celtic Park are expected for Hearts, plus a visit from Rangers.
Whether home or away, each top-six fixture will provide a stern test, given the standard of the Premiership's top half this term.
But the leaders have a potential banana skin to deal with in West Lothian, either side of home games against Dundee and Motherwell, before focusing on their post-split calendar as they aim to allay fears of a wobble.
