STUCK ON REPEAT
Same old story as Hearts spill more points, fans heap abuse on Levein and he says that he understands their frustrations
It was like Groundhog Day at tynecastle on Saturday. Hearts fail to win, manager Craig Levein is on the end of some piercing obscenities from irate supporters, but says he understands their frustrations.
the Gorgie faithful have been reliving this painful loop for quite some time.
the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hamilton extended their winless Premiership run to 11 matches — eight of which have ended in defeat — a barren patch which stretches back to March 30.
Hearts are second bottom of the table with two points from four games, and have made their worst start to a season since 2007.
If Levein had claimed the recent goalless draw with top-flight newcomers Ross County was a nadir that could never be repeated, then this stalemate came close to matching it.
And all this as the former Scotland boss insists the current squad is the strongest he has had since returning to the Hearts dugout two years ago.
Captain Christophe Berra refused to even try and sugar coat the team’s failings, and insists that they have underperformed for years.
‘At the moment, with the squad we have, we should be doing better,’ said the centre-half.
‘We have been underachieving. All right, we got to a Scottish Cup final and a Betfred Cup semi-final last season, but we have been underachieving for the last two or three seasons.
‘We’ve improved the squad on paper but, at the moment, I just don’t know what it is. We’re not performing, simple as that.
‘We deserve all the criticism that has come our way and we just have to take it on the chin.’
the flak directed at the players is minuscule compared to what their manager is subjected to.
BBC Radio Scotland even had to apologise to listeners during the game after their microphones picked up some of the winceinducing language being lobbed towards the dugout.
‘You do get some ridiculous shouts that you wouldn’t even get in the street and let’s be honest, sadly, that’s what football is,’ added Berra. ‘the gaffer has been in the game long enough, he’ll know about it.
‘Yeah, some of it is over the top, but he’s got the club’s best interests at heart. First and foremost, we are the ones who cross the white line.
‘the only way we can stop the abuse is to win games and win them in a certain style. At the moment, we’re not doing that, so maybe teams are feeding off all the negativity.
‘It’s not good enough. We have ambitions to be a top-three or top-four side and, at the moment, we are just not finding the recipe to see us do that.’
Not even the much-heralded arrival of Ryo Meshino, the on-loan attacking midfielder from Manchester City, could influence proceedings.
Meshino was introduced in the 31st minute for the injured Euan Henderson and, despite showing some really neat touches, is undoubtedly well short of full match fitness.
Hearts were twice pegged back by Brian Rice’s side after taking the lead. Sean Clare slipped a low shot past Owain Fon Williams after 20 minutes but George Oakley took advantage of a porous home rearguard five minutes after the restart to level.
the striker outmuscled Berra and pounced on Aidy White’s mistake to poke the ball past Colin Doyle in the home goal.
Berra restored Hearts’ slender advantage with a header from Andy Irving’s corner in the 58th minute before Oakley added his second after 73 minutes, this time planting a low shot into the corner of the net from 16 yards.
the Accies man would have had a hat-trick in his sights but his body had had enough and he was replaced by David Moyo shortly after that.
‘It was disappointing having to come off but both my calves just went and I was getting cramp,’ admitted Oakley.
‘Just for the betterment of the team, I thought we should get some fresh legs on to create something more. I wasn’t going to be selfish in that way. I wanted to get the third but if my legs can’t do it then...
‘After I had scored the second, I said to the manager: “I can carry on but I think my calves are going to go”.’
Although delighted with his side’s collective display, Rice admits his forwards set the tone from the front.
‘I like to play two up and I think it causes problems,’ added the Hamilton boss. ‘It’s a real difficult shift for one player to be up there on his own, but sometimes personnel dictates that is the way it has to be.
‘I’ve got two lads up there who are big, physical and strong and both of them can run.
‘George can score goals and Marios (Ogkmpoe) had chances as well against Hearts. It gives the rest of the lads confidence knowing if they get the ball up to them that we have the lads up there who are prepared to put the work in to try and keep it.’