Head coach Neil Critchley said he was shocked by Sunday’s performance at Rugby Park, where Hearts lost to a Kilmarnock side who played 90 minutes with 10 players, but this was more of the same against a team they were heavy favourites to beat.
Cammy Devlin inexplicably gave the ball away in the opening couple of minutes to set the tone and that nervousness spread across the pitch and into the stands.
Petrocub’s first goal – Sergiu Platica poking home Vladimir Ambros’ cross – turned nervousness into anger and any mistake for the rest of the opening 45 was met with whistles and groans.
Hearts’ midfield was non-existent and their lack of pace meant they struggled to stretch the game, with only left-back Penrice taking the game to Petrocub.
Winger James Forrest was hooked at the interval for Blair Spittal, a change that gave the hosts some much-needed impetus.
Wilson found the bottom corner after Lawrence Shankland was tackled in the opposition box and, six minutes later, Spittal coolly headed back across goal to put Hearts in front.
However, Petrocub continued to pose a threat on the break despite their lack of possession and Victor Mudrak’s penalty levelled the scores after Penrice’s handball.
There is a notable lack of leaders in this Hearts side. No-one stood up and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck when needed – and the game fizzled out.
Scotland striker Shankland is a shadow of the player he was last season and, while Craig Gordon has been a magnificent servant, the goalkeeper came off his line unnecessarily for the first goal and his poor distribution only added to the unrest in the stands.
At best, Hearts have stood still under Critchley’s leadership. A cynic would say they have gone backwards.
A win for Hearts would have kept them in European competition after Christmas for the first time in 35 years, a glimmer of hope in what has been an awful season to date, but Mudrac’s spot-kick and TSC’s victory over FC Noah snuffed that out.
If things are to turn around, Hearts need a seriously good January transfer window to plug the gaps in their unbalanced squad. Otherwise, it’s difficult to see how this changes for the better.
