Hearts Manager Criticises Defending After Disappointing Draw
Hearts manager Derek McInnes described his team’s defending as “inexplicable” following a frustrating 2-2 draw against Livingston, which cost them crucial points in the race for the Premiership title. The match, played at Livingston’s stadium, saw the visitors fall behind early and then struggle to maintain control of the game despite taking the lead.
The Jambos were caught off guard within the first five minutes when Stevie May scored a fine goal, putting them on the back foot. However, Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga managed to put Hearts ahead with goals either side of the interval. Despite this, their advantage was quickly undone as Lewis Smith capitalized on a defensive lapse to equalize and secure a share of the points for Livingston.
The draw allowed Hearts to return to the top of the table, briefly overtaking Rangers after their weekend games. However, the result was far from satisfactory for McInnes, who expressed frustration over the missed opportunity to extend their lead ahead of next week’s match against Motherwell.
“[It’s] absolutely two points dropped,” McInnes said. “You know, I thought we lost two really poor goals.”
Defensive Mistakes and Tactical Issues
McInnes highlighted the defensive errors that led to both goals, emphasizing that the team failed to maintain composure under pressure. He pointed out that the first goal came from a lack of coordination in pressing, and the second goal was even more concerning due to the team’s inability to retain possession in key areas of the pitch.
“The first goal comes from the press not being right. Just because the press isn’t right at the outset, it still means you don’t throw petrol into the fire and make the situation worse. As soon as [Craig] Halkett gets dragged out into the wide area, we’re not right. It’s such a poor goal to lose.”
He also noted that the psychological impact of conceding the second goal changed the dynamics of the game, forcing Hearts to shift their focus to regaining control. Meanwhile, Livingston, a team at the bottom of the league, had something to hang onto, which McInnes felt influenced the outcome.
“We never really demonstrated enough of what we were good at in that last part. Livingston more than earned their point, there’s no two ways about that.”
Shankland’s Return and Attacking Threat
The return of Lawrence Shankland to the starting lineup was a positive note for Hearts. The captain scored his 12th league goal of the season and provided an assist in the second half. McInnes praised Shankland’s performance, highlighting his physical presence and ability to create chances.
“I thought he was terrific throughout,” McInnes said. “He looked a threat, his header was top-class, and he was in the middle of the goal so I think you see exactly what he is today.”
He also commended the partnership between Shankland and Braga, noting that their attacking combination was effective and that the team should have scored more goals.
“But there can’t be a trade-off with that, and there was no need for us to lose the types of goals we lose.”
Livingston’s Manager Comments
Livingston’s manager, Marvin Bartley, acknowledged his team’s performance but admitted they would prefer points over praise. The Lions are currently 11 points behind at the bottom of the table with only six games left, but Bartley remains determined to keep fighting.
“There’s a reason why we only have one win,” Bartley said. “Basically, in games, obviously, we’ve not attacked well enough or we haven’t defended well enough. I’m very straightforward with the players when it comes to that.”
Bartley added that while he values effort, he expects consistent performances from his players.
“If they show me that kind of effort that they showed today in every single game, that’s all I can ask of them. This team will keep on fighting.”
