Head coach Neil Critchley has called on his Heart of Midlothian players to “stand up as a group” after exiting the Conference League following Thursday’s 2-2 draw at home to Moldovan minnows Petrocub, but how deep are their troubles?
“They have serious problems,” former Tynecastle left-back Allan Preston said on BBC Sportsound.
“They could be relegated this season. It simply isn’t good enough. The fans deserve better, a lot better.”
Domestically, Hearts are bottom of the Scottish Premiership after 17 games, the same position they were in when Critchley took over in October.
In the 14 matches since the 46-year-old’s appointment, he has won just four games, with the draw against Moldovan champions who finished bottom of the 36-team Conference League with only two points a new low in a woeful campaign.
With a hectic festive schedule fast approaching, Hearts must look to haul themselves off the foot of Scotland’s top flight, but there are suggestions fans are already losing patience.
“Can Critchley motivate the players? That’s what the fans are asking,” Preston suggested. “He needs to be given time and a window or two, but it’s a results-driven business.”
‘We can’t blame anyone else’
Away from a grim start to the league campaign, which was compounded by an abject defeat away to 10-man Kilmarnock on Sunday, Hearts had the chance to create European history against a club who were already eliminated from the competition.
A victory would have sealed progression to the Conference League knockout stage, but another concerning display resulted in a 2-2 draw against a team who have only won once in their history away from home in Europe.
The atmosphere at Tynecastle was bordering on becoming toxic after Critchley’s men went into the break a goal down.
“A result like this, fans will switch off to Critchley, he’ll be done,” Preston said at the interval.
“There will be no coming back. It looks like the players are not up for this. The performance has been rubbish, absolutely rubbish.”
Although Hearts briefly turned it around, thanks to goals from 17-year-old James Wilson and Blair Spittal, a late Petrocub penalty denied them becoming the first Scottish side outside of the Old Firm since 2008 to make the knockout phase of a European competition.
“We didn’t do enough” and “we can’t blame anyone else” was the view of Critchley post-match – and that was echoed by captain Lawrence Shankland.
“We’ve only got ourselves to blame,” the Scotland striker told TNT Sports. “The boys showed good character at times because it got hostile out there.
“But from that [winning] position, we should really win the game. I didn’t feel the boys didn’t try or work hard, it was just a lack of quality.
“It’s not been there all season – it’s been disappointing.”
With Europe no longer a distraction after a disappointing exit, Hearts now have to focus on dragging themselves away from relegation danger.
Three of their next four games come at Tynecastle, starting with St Johnstone on Saturday before an Edinburgh derby against Hibernian on Boxing Day, but Preston is predicting a rough ride unless things improve dramatically.
“It hasn’t been good enough this season,” he added. “Legs seem to have gone from some of these Hearts players. They are not at the level required.
“That opening 45-minute performance will get them relegated.”
Have your say on Hearts’ woes
So where do Hearts go from here? Thursday’s disappointment was a fresh low in what has been a miserable campaign.
Do you back Critchley to turn it around in the upcoming games? If so, what needs to change for him to do that?