Tynecastle in turmoil: A few lights in campaign of gloom

Betfred Cup group stage, 27 July

■ To say Hearts stumbled into the knockout stages of the Betfred Cup would be an understatement. Craig Levein’s side took the lead at New Bayview through Jamie Walker but the display lacked any real tempo and creativity. When the third-tier side equalised within ten minutes of the second half it was fully deserved.

From that point onwards there looked like only being one winner, and it wasn’t Hearts. There was a real sense from observing the visiting support that the tide was very much turning on Levein’s tenure, with chants and shouts against his position evident.

Two years on from the embarrassing, and pointless, penalty shootout defeat by Dunfermline Athletic at the same stage in the Betfred Cup under Ian Cathro, Hearts once again were defeated on penalties with ex-hibs youngster Aaron Dunsmore netting the winning spot-kick to add insult to frustration.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 14 September

■ This was one of the most eventful afternoons Tynecastle had witnessed in a number of years, which says something in itself. The home supporters made their feelings known early on about the management of Craig Levein and the club’s continued support of him in his role. It only intensified as Hearts deservedly fell behind through Declan Gallagher. It became 2-0 then 3-1 in the second half as the atmosphere turned mutinous.

The home side rallied late on, but it wasn’t enough to stop another defeat and the team sinking to five games without a win. It was what happened afterwards which became the main story. Hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand, fans gathered outside the Main Stand to protest and urge the club to sack Levein. At one point some supporters tried to storm the reception.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 22 September

■ The two Edinburgh clubs were at a low ebb with pundits and supporters alike expecting the losing manager to be looking for a new job by the end of the weekend. That scenario didn’t quite materialise as Hearts came from behind to win 2-1 at Easter Road. Such a result, the manner of it and the celebrations at the end suggested the win could act as a turning point in the season, with recent recruit Ryotaro Meshino having an influence. Even more so when the side progressed to the Betfred Cup semi-final a few days later.

But more than anything it relieved the pressure on Levein significantly. Many were expecting Hearts would fail to win and the club would have no option but to sack the former defender. Yet, as he has done throughout his career, he tasted success once more over Hibs. But it wouldn’t be long before the pressure was back on.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 30 October

■ Come the morning of 31 October, Hearts sat 11th in the league with a goal difference one better than St Mirren. It was the day after the loss at Mcdiarmid Park and it would be the day the club announced that they were parting ways with Craig Levein.

The travelling fans endured an insipid display which prompted chants of

“Craig Levein, we wantyoutogo”.asat

East Fife in the Betfred

Cup, there was little energy, a team devoidofideasandonewhichseemed to have no idea of its destination or purpose.

Hearts had netted only ten goals in 11 games, allowed St Johnstone to move off the bottom of the table, scored own goal by Christophe Berra which handed Saints the win and became the first team in the Premiership to fail to score against Tommy Wright’s outfit.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 21 December

■ Daniel Stendel’s introduction to life at Hearts was an eye-opener for the German. It was made pretty clear from early on that he had a big job on his hands. There was little reaction to his appointment in terms of performance in his first game against St Johnstone as his side lost 1-0.

Five changes were made for the trip to Hamilton Accies the following week, but again there was little sign of progress. It was another match, however, which allowed Stendel, left, to make his mind up on certain players.

In terms of the bigger picture, it would be Accies’ second of three 2 Craig Levein shakes hands with Christophe Berra who scored the own goal that led to defeat at Mcdiarmid Park. Levein was sacked the following morning.

0 A fans’ demo after the home defeat by Motherwell in September.

3 Oliver Bozanic, left, Steven Naismith and team-mates celebrate victory over Hibs earlier this month. matches unbeaten. Hearts’ inability to beat teams around them is one of a number of reasons they are in dire relegation trouble.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 26 January

This was it. This was the turning point. The return to action after the winter break brought about progress in the Scottish Cup and a goalless draw with relegation rivals Ross County in Dingwall.

But then came an inspirational performance against title challengers Rangers at Tynecastle. Not only did Hearts recover from a goal down to win but they made Steven Gerrard’s men look ordinary.

It was the type of performance many expected a Daniel Stendel team to produce with new signings Toby Sibbick and Liam Boyce having an impact. It wasn’t the turning point fans thought it would be.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 3 March

■ Four matches had taken place between the win over Rangers in the league and the visit to Leith. On top of that 15 goals had been shipped. There was an apprehension about the trip to Easter Road. A defeat would be a nail in the coffin of Hearts’ survival hopes.

What transpired was a very smart, pragmatic and enjoyable victory for the maroon faithful. Players who had been much-maligned came to the fore with big performances and the nature of the display enthused the away support.

Once again, there was a sense that this was it, this was the turning point for Daniel Stendel’s men.

Ladbrokes Premiership, 11 March

■ Huge. Crucial. Imperative. Mustwin. Some of the words used to describe the rearranged match in Paisley. Win and Daniel Stendel’s men would jump off the foot of the table, lose and the future of Hearts as a Scottish Premiership club looked bleak.

What followed was without a doubt the worst performance of the season, considering what was on the line.

The Buddies kept their opponents at arms length and arguably deserved to win by more. Too many players allowed the game to pass them by as Hearts, a week on from easing past Hibs, showed no sign of being able to get a grip of proceedings. It was summed up by the goal conceded as the team made it easy for the opposition. A microcosm of the defensive issues which won’t go away.

Fans voiced their anger but who knew that the world was going to change so drastically in such a short space of time with Hearts’ future so uncertain.