HEARTLESS

We never laid a glove on Rangers. We need to stop hiding from the ball and show bravery, says Smith

TOOTHLESS Hearts failed miserably to penetrate the Rangers backline at Hampden yesterday. But defender Michael Smith did not miss the target afterwards as he launched a blistering attack on his team-mates in the wake of their 3-0 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat.

Accusing his fellow players of lacking bravery and hiding during the contest, Smith did not mince his words as he spelled out what must happen if this toiling Tynecastle team is to turn the corner.

‘What went wrong today? Without swearing, people need to be brave,’ said the Northern Ireland international.

‘They need to want the ball and, at the minute, I’m not seeing that from a lot of my team-mates.

‘It’s a real problem. People need to stand up and be counted — and grow a set!

‘Bravery is not always about flying into tackles. That should be a given, just as 50/50 challenges should be a given.

‘For me, that’s not bravery. Bravery is wanting to get on the ball and pass the ball. Real bravery is showing for a pass and moving for the ball. That’s what gets you somewhere in football.

‘Just look at Rangers today. Every single one of their players wanted the ball at all times — and look what happened for them.

‘I still believe we are a good set of players here at Hearts but, when confidence is low, you need people to step up and be brave — and there’s not enough people doing that right now. It was just poor today — very poor. We never laid a glove on Rangers.’

For Smith, the first task facing Craig Levein’s successor as Hearts boss is to change the weak mentality of these players.

But until the new man is appointed, he believes experienced players like himself, Steven Naismith and Glenn Whelan must step forward and make demands on those whose performances are falling far short of requirements.

‘The new boss definitely needs to change the mentality,’ nodded Smith.

‘I see players wanting the ball in training every day but, when it comes to a Saturday, it’s a different story. I’m not saying we can’t do it during games. We just need a change of mentality and to be a bit braver.

‘We talk about that between ourselves and we drive each other on. We’ve got good, experienced players in the squad like Naismith and Whelan, who dig people out. And that’s exactly what we need at the minute. That’s how you get the most out of people.’

The defeat at St Johnstone last Wednesday night, which spelled the end for Levein, left Hearts joint-bottom of the Premiership with St Mirren on eight points.

The two teams meet at Tynecastle on Saturday and Smith says it is an indisputable fact that his side are now locked in a fight to beat the drop.

‘At the minute, we are in a relegation battle — 100 per cent,’ said the 31-year-old.

‘If you look at our performances recently, they have been very poor. The only way to get out of it is to work hard on the training pitch.

‘We have a massive game coming up next weekend and that will be our focus. The quicker we get this semi-final out of our heads the better — then we can start to prepare for the next game.’

Smith admits he was devastated to see Levein sacked last Thursday but he believes caretaker manager Austin MacPhee can fill the void.

‘Craig came in to see us the day after he was relieved of his duties and thanked us for our efforts,’ said Smith.

‘He said he still believes in us and that we can get out of this and then he wished us good luck for the future. I am gutted he is gone because we never repaid him for what he did for us all.

‘He brought us here to Hearts and he has established me as a regular international player.

‘Can Austin manage Hearts? Yes, he’s a really thorough man. The last two training days, we have done a lot of work under him and the boys have enjoyed it.

‘We came here with a game plan that he gave us but it’s down to the players to execute that game plan.

‘We never did that well enough and it is just so disappointing. We tried to stay high up the pitch at the start but Rangers probably knew that and they switched it about a bit and started causing us problems.

‘Yes, it was a bad time to lose a goal just before half-time but it was pretty much backs to the wall the whole opening 45 minutes.

‘Then it was one lapse of concentration from us and they were ahead in the match. And once Rangers scored the opening goal, it was really hard for us to get something from the game.

‘But we didn’t show up today and it was really poor and really disappointing. It’s hurting me.’