Hearts boss Levein insists loss of two points is fair
● Club also fined £2,000 but manager is determined to overcome group handicap
Hearts manager Craig Levein insists the Gorgie outfit are satisfied with the two-point penalty imposed by the SPFL, even though they now face an uphill struggle to reach the Betfred Cup second round. The punishment was imposed at a disciplinary hearing at Hampden yesterday, where Hearts were represented by owner Ann Budge, after the ineligible Andy Irving played in last Wednesday’s 2-1 Group C victory over Cove Rangers.
The midfielder came on as a 65th minute substitute, when Hearts were winning 2-0, but the Edinburgh club admitted a day later that the 18-year-old’s official registration expired on 9 June because his contract extension was not properly submitted to the Scottish FA in January.
The sanctions, which include a £10,000 fine – £8,000 of which is suspended until the end of next season – leave Hearts on three points, two adrift of Inverness and Cowdenbeath, whom they host this evening.
Levein, whose side picked up a bonus point with a penalty shootout win over Raith Rovers on Saturday, said: “We’re satisfied with the outcome of the hearing.
“Every case needs to be judged on its merits and that’s what the panel did; they considered all of the arguments before making their decision.
“I put Andy on the pitch as a young boy just to get some experience.
“We were winning 2-0 when he went on and we ended up winning 2-1 so we got no competitive advantage from it whatsoever.
“We can now focus fully on our match against Cowdenbeath at Tynecastle, knowing exactly what we have to do to get out of the group.
“Our aim is to progress in this competition and we’ll be going all out to do just that.”
Hearts wrap up the section with a visit of Inverness on Sunday but their hopes of progressing to the second round have been dealt a significant blow.
The eight group winners progress to the knock-out stages along with the four best runners-up. As things stand, the teams currently occupying second place in all the other sections have better points tallies than Hearts, albeit Annan have played one more game in Group F.
The SPFL statement read: “At a disciplinary hearing, a subcommittee of the SPFL board charged Heart of Midlothian
Football Club with playing an ineligible player (Andrew Irving) in their Betfred Cup group stage match against Cove Rangers FC on 18 July 2018.
“Heart of Midlothian admitted breaching SPFL rules and were deducted two points
from their Betfred Cup first round group stage tally.
“The club were also fined £10,000 (of which £8,000 was suspended until the end of season 2019-20).”
St Mirren head to Queen’s Park tonight looking for the win that will lift them above Dumbarton in Group H, the game against the Spiders also providing the opportunity to bounce back from the 6-0 defeat at the hands of former manager Jack Ross’ Sunderland.
Manager Alan Stubbs said: “We lost bad goals on Saturday and even if it was a friendly we should have done a lot better. We will look to move on very quickly.”
Queen’s head coach Gus Macphersoncomesupagainst his former club for the first time since leaving in 2010. He said: “My seven years there seems a long, long time ago.
“They will be disappointed with the Sunderland game and will be looking to get it out of their system quite quickly.”
Kilmarnock also have the chance to top Group H when they head to Spartans with manager Stevie Clark refusing to underestimate the Lowland League Champions.
Clarke said: “They have been extremely competitive in every game and we will field a side that can deal with that.”
Spartans coach Derek Riddel has told the Ainslie Park players to savour the occasion. He said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to highlight what our club and community is all about.”
St Johnstone will end
Falkirk’s interest in the competition tonight if they come out on top in their Group B match at Mcdiarmid Park. Saints manager Tommy Wright is set to include winger Matty Kennedy for the first time since he joined from Cardiff City.
Theperthbosssaid:“wewon 1-0 at Montrose on Saturday. However, we let the game be a lot tighter than it should have been. We need to convert our chances at a better rate.”
Annan will end their Group F games at Airdrie sitting in top spot if they win. Manager Peter Murphy said: “It has been a hard shift but it would be great to throw everything we can into getting another three points.”
Hamilton look for their first Group F goal when they travel to Berwick. Manager Martin Canning said: “We have not been creating as much as I would like so I am looking for us to cause Berwick problems.”
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald completed his homework on Group E opponents Albion Rovers when he took in the Coatbridge side’s 2-0 defeat by Ayr on Saturday. He said: “Albion Rovers created a few chances against a
Championship side, so it was a worthwhile trip.”
In the same group Ayr manager Ian Mccall has called for ruthlessness against visitors Stenhousemuir .Hesaid“we led early at Coatbridge, but we missed a lot of chances before getting our second. It was great to win but I would rather we were showing a clinical side when we do.”
New Inverness midfielder Sean Welsh will not feature for the Group C leaders against visitors Raith Rovers after being sent off against Brora Rangers in a friendly on his debut last week.
The former Partick Thistle and Falkirk player was handed a two-match ban and manager John Robertson was disappoinyed
with that verdict. He said: “Sean was a bit harshly treated. However he has apologised and we will move on.”
Alloa boss Jim Goodwin recognises that the Wasps
are sitting in a good place in Group A, but he knows that hosts Elgin City have the firepower to dent their hopes of qualifying.
Goodwin said: “Elgin are always strong at home and they have good players, particularly up front, so nothing can be taken for granted.”
Stranraer manager Stephen Farrell has challenged his players to handle the burden of expectation against Group G visitors Clyde.
The Stair Park men shone at the weekend when they drew 1-1 with Motherwell before winning the penalty shootout and Farrell said: “We need to show that we can play the same way in games where we are expected to win.”
“Elgin are always strong at home and they have good players particularly up front so nothing can be taken for granted”
JIM GOODWIN