Hearts boss Neil Critchley did not feel the 4-1 scoreline was a true reflection on the game against William Hill Premiership pace-setters, Celtic, at Tynecastle.
Four second-half goals sunk the Tynecastle team who played well in the first half but spurned several gilt edged chances. Celtic made them pay with four goals in the second spell, two in just over four minutes.
Critchley’s men remain in second bottom spot, three points behind fellow-strugglers, Kilmarnock, but have played a game more than Capital rivals Hibs, who prop up the 12-strong table, and the men from Rugby Park.
Hearts boss told BBC Sport Scotland that his men had an “excellent” first 45 minutes, had good organisation, good structure and that they had created some really good moments.
But he added: “You have to take your chances in these type of games, and we didn’t.”
You also, he said, need an element of luck and Celtic had that when Kyogo latched on to a defensive rebound to open Celtic’s account.
Critchley (pictued by Nigel Duncan) said: “4-1 looks like a drubbing but I didn’t think it was a true reflection of the game.”
Now for Europe on Thursday when the Jambos travel to Cercle Brugge and the head coach said: “We need to bounce back. We’re in a relatively decent position in Europa and we need to go and improve of we want to get something on Thursday night.”
His opposite number, Brendan Rodgers, said: “Tynecastle is a really tough place so to win 4-1 was really pleasing., Second half, we figured out their press. In the second half we were excellent.”
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