Wouter Vrancken, Hearts’ head coach, told BBC Sport Scotland that he was confident at half-time that his men could turn a 1-0 deficit to Austrian side, Sturm Graz, around.
Well, they didn’t.
Nine nightmare, second-half minutes saw the Jambos concede three goals for a final scoreline of 4-0.
The critics were quick to condem. “Embarassing” said Peter Martin of PLZ. “Battered” said Andrew Petrie of BBC Sport Scotland. “Wouter Vrancken’s first game as Jam Tarts boss ends with chastening defeat” said Sky Sports.
What can Vrancken pick out of the defeat. Well, he felt his men “didn’t start too badly” before losing a goal from a set-piece less than four minutes in.
Overall, he felt his men were “killed” by two set-pieces.
And the Belgian declared to BBC Sport Scotland: “After the first goal we needed some minutes to come back in it and find our confidence again, but then we did well and created a lot of chances. We have to do a lot better with these chances. At this level you have to score goals there.
“I was confident at half-time that we could still turn it around, that we could use the space better and show more conviction.
“Then the second half stats. We get the first good opportunity, we miss it. Then we concede from a set-piece and mentally it is difficult for the players.
“Then the players want to force it and lose the overview and make it more difficult.”
Vrancken and his hand-picked coaching staff have until next Tuesday to put things right. That is when they welcome Sturm Graz to Tynecastle for the second leg of this qualifier in the second round of the Champions League.
Kick-off is at 19.45 but what can the new boss, a former Belgian Coach of the Year, take from the defeat? Glaringly obvious is that he needs to shore up his leaky defence. Hearts were strong on set-pieces last season under Derek McInnes and his coaches. In Austria they were not.
Jamie McCart and Christian Borchgrevink were rarely seen during McInnes’ reign. On Tuesday, they were starters, and in a rearguard which looked fragile whenever the opposition attacked.
Yes, the Men in Maroon created chances. Alexandros Kyziridis held his head in his hands when he pushed a side-foot shot wide of the left-hand upright. McCart had several headers close in which failed to find the net. Landry Kabore shot straight at the goalkeeper when he should have scored when in a great position.
Calvin Miller, a man who was the scourge of many defences for Falkirk last season, only showed flashes.
On the positive side, Oisin McEntee drove at the opposition defence, Harry Milne, the captain on the night, worked tirelessly and put in at least two, last-ditch and quality tackles to deny Sturm Graz.
Amadou Ba-Sy, a late inclusion in the squad, came on and tested the Austrian defence, on occasions, and Sabri Guendouz, a second-half substitute, again showed nice touches and a willingness to spray passes around.
Departing goalkeeper, Alexander Schwolow, who is moving back to Germany, we are told, for “personal reasons”, made some good stops, including one with his feet from a deflection.
Vrancken told the media at his first press beefing that he wants to produce a team and a style the fans want to see. The squad who wore the jersey in Austria are not what they want to see.
Just under 2,000 made the journey to Austria and they were not entertained. They, and the rest of the clubs faithful fanbase, may have to be patient as Vrancken works things out, but he does not have much time until next Tuesday.
Recovering a 4-0 deficit does not look achievable on that showing and thoughts of travelling to Turkiye to cheer their side against Fenerbahce, who lead 1-0 after the home first leg of their second round qualifier against Polish side, Gornik Zabrze, or Poland should be held in check.
This result and the negativity which comes with it on the back of that crushing final-day defeat at Celtic Park when the William Hill Premiership title was ripped away, then the loss of McInnes, Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers, is a lot to take in a short time.
OPTIMISM: Graeme Jones, Hearts’ sporting director, and Wouter Vrancken (right) at the press briefing to confirm the appointment. Picture Nigel Duncan
