Hearts stumble into knock-out stages of Betfred Cup

East Fife 1 Heart of Midlothian 1 (East Fife win 7-6
on penalties)

Scottish League Cup – Group A – Saturday 27^th
July 2019 – New Bayview

Hearts
duly qualified for the knock-out stages of the Betfred Scottish League Cup but,
as their wont, did it the hard way. After Wednesday evening’s late late show
against League Two Stenhousemuir at Tynecastle, Craig Levein’s side again
struggled, this time against League One East Fife. The Fifers held their
Premiership opponents to a 1-1 draw at 90 minutes before snatching the bonus
point after winning the resultant penalty shoot-out 7-6.

After
the midweek shenanigans, Hearts manager Craig Levein made sweeping changes to
his team. Captain Christophe Berra, Andrew Irving, Jake Mulraney, Dario Zanatta
and Uche Ikpeazu all came into the side as Hearts sought to win the group
comfortably. But this is Hearts we’re talking about where doing things the hard
way is second nature.

The
visitors began decently enough with Jamie Walker and Christophe Berra having
early chances. Indeed, it was Walker who opened the scoring in the 15^th
minute, tapping the ball home after fine play from Craig Halkett.

Ikpeazu
saw his header saved from home keeper Long before the former Cambridge United
player spurned another opportunity when he hit the side netting just before
half time.

As
has been the case with their other games in Section A, Hearts were struggling
to make an impact, and no one was surprised when East Fife equalised ten
minutes into the second half. A cross from Wallace was met by Duggan who
drilled the ball past Hearts keeper Bobby Zlamal who perhaps should have done
better.

And
that was the end of the scoring although Hearts Steven MacLean really should
have won the game for the visitors when he missed a tantalising cross from Jake
Mulraney and a golden chance went abegging.

The
point for Hearts was enough to see them qualify for the next round but the
afternoon was tainted somewhat when East Fife won the resultant penalty shoot-out
7-6 – Hearts Aaron Hickey missing the Gorgie side’s final spot kick – to earn
the bonus point. Hearts unconvincing performances will mean they are unseeded
when the draw for the knock-out stage takes place, meaning they could face
Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen or city rivals Hibernian.

The
Hearts support weren’t slow in venting their anger towards Craig Levein. On the
basis of Hearts Betfred Cup displays thus far, one suspects Hearts supporters
will be displaying such demonstrative behaviour on a regular basis this season.

It
may be a long campaign ahead for the long-suffering Maroon Army. Ann Budge
please take note.

East
Fife:
Long, Dunsmore, Higgins, Murdoch, Dunlop, Slattery, Wallace, Agnew, Hunter (R.
Davidson, 63′), Watt (Dowds, 79′), Duggan.

Hearts: Zlamal, M. Smith, Berra,
Clare, Walker, Mulraney, Ikpeazu (MacLean, 80′), Halkett, Zanatta (Keena, 63′),
Irving (Bozanic, 68′), Hickey.

Referee: David Munro

Top
man: Craig
Halkett

Att: 1,998