Jambos finally made their point
It looked like it was going to be one of those days for Hearts at Tynecastle yesterday as they struggled to come from behind against 10-man Hamilton Accies. Uche Ikpeazu and Donis Avdijaj both went close before Craig Halkett made it 2-2.
Forget about building for the future. Forget about the Daniel Stendel revolution and “Gorgiepressing”.
Between now and the end of the season Hearts can only afford to spend time and energy on one thing – fighting relegation.
They battled back yesterday from 2-0 down against 10-man Hamilton Accies to ensure they remain only one point adrift at the foot of the Premiership.
But the way they played when it was 11 v 11 should be of enormous concern.
With Stendel talking of Tynecastle as “our castle” in the match programme, and with their nearest relegation rivals as their visitors, Hearts should have been drilled, disciplined and determined.
Instead, they were utterly reckless – and quickly picked apart.
As Storm Dennis raged, they ultimately redeemed themselves, but only after Accies lost a man.
And Hamilton assistant boss Guillaume Beuzelin’s post-match assessment told the story.
“I think we did enough to take all three points,” said the former Hibs man.
“We were hanging on and hanging on, but in the end it’s a lack of concentration and we’re punished for it.
“We worked so hard to get three points. We’ll take one, but I think we should have won the game.”
Talk of castles brings to mind solid, impenetrable places. Tynecastle has been anything but this season.
Against Accies, it once again proved of zero aid to Hearts’ attempts to keep things tight.
Their fellow relegation battlers strolled into the lead after just five minutes, to the utter incredulity of the home support.
Their bafflement was entirely justified. Hearts’ attempt at defending as Scott Martin squared for the totally unmarked Marios Ogkmpoe was dismal.
The Accies man’s side-footed finish, on the other hand, was deft – and it knocked Hearts on their backsides.
With howls of derision raining down from the stands, panic set in, and the result made for grim watching.
Hearts found themselves 2-0 down 15 minutes in – and it was totally selfinflicted. Yes – Accies had possession in Hearts’ box, but Ogkmpoe was facing away from goal when Sean Clare swiped wildly at his legs.
It was a clear – and unnecessary – penalty, and Ogkmpoe sent Bobby Zlamal the wrong way from the spot.
But a breathless opening 20 minutes was capped when the visitors’ Jamie Hamilton was shown a straight red card for diverting a Liam Boyce-bound ball with his hand.
Referee Kevin Clancy harshly adjudged Hamilton to have denied the Jam Tarts a clear goal scoring opportunity – and with Hearts suddenly in possession of a oneman advantage, they took control.
Steven Naismith almost pulled one back five minutes before the break when he headed just past the post.
Then only a passage of desperate defending by Accies prevented Clare, then Jamie Walker, then Uche Ikpeazu from hitting the net.
It felt like a Hearts goal before the break could change everything.
Instead the Jam Tarts trotted up the tunnel two goals down, with the fury of their supporters ringing in their ears.
The kind of dressing room scenarios in which Hearts found themselves at halftime yesterday are where managers prove their worth. Whether Stendel dished out an ear-bashing or a pep-talk, it worked.
His side pulled a goal back within three minutes of the restart when Naismith sprung Walker, who advanced on goal before poking past Luke Southwood. In the aftermath, it was one-way traffic. Hearts pushed desperately forward, their only concern grabbing the equaliser that would prevent them slipping further adrift of their opponents.
Yet as the minutes slipped by, chances only went a begging
Naismith, Walker, Boyce and Avdijaj all fluffed their lines.
But just when it seemed all was lost, Craig Halkett popped up to nod home Conor Washington’s cross.
Hearts’ equaliser came at the death. With so much at stake, everyone connected with the club will hope it finally jolts them to life.