Thanks only to the SPFL looking out for their prized big central belt team we are not already through as group winners. 

We will likely qualify as a best second-placed team even if we lose on Sunday (in any case, we will know this by the time we play as the other groups will conclude on Saturday).

If we win or draw, we win the group and send Hearts packing which would be very sweet and would ensure our unbeaten run stretching back to mid-March continues.

Backs to the wall stuff early doors as Hearts go for a power play.

Decidedly dodgy start. Can't get a grip of the ball at all.

Surprised that Austin has been dropped to bench. Understand why we might put an additional midfielder in but Austin's mobility will be missed.  

Looks like we are defending deep but Chalmers sweet left foot should have put us ahead on the break. We are not exactly parking the bus but we look confident that we can hit them on the break.

The biggest positive so far is that their passing and distribution is worse than ours. BT Sport just zoomed into a Hearts mummy breastfeeding her baby !!!

1-0 to Hearts !!!!

Oh dear - Fine finish by Ikpeazu BUT why was White designated to shadow and not Donaldson or McKay ?

This is going to be a BIG 15 minutes. ?

Oh oh 2-0 !!!!!!

2-0 but our feckin wall looked 15 yards back. Brilliant free kick though.

0h oh 3-0 !!!!!!

It's a bit of a strange situation to be in having a 3 goal cushion.  Clearly Hearts need to win the game and you would expect them to be fired up for the game.  Our lads will have been told we need to go out and win the game to keep the momentum going and to show we are the best in the group.  But  the danger is they will know they don't have to win and that can lead to a loss of focus and bit of complacency.  They also know it will be a bit of a disaster now if we do go out so that all makes for a bit of apprehension in the back of their minds.  Once you lose that focus it is so hard to get it back.  It's going to be a very difficult afternoon now.

Oh dear - we are falling apart. First two were fine strikes - so was that but our defending was poor.

What the hell is going on

Outclassed

Had my concerns when I saw the team and they've been proved right.  Neither Trafford or Chalmers are doing anything defensively which means Hearts midfield are waltzing through.  White not pacy enough upfront so Hearts defence can stay high and squeeze us.  Change of shape needed now before this gets more embarrassing.

We are not being outclassed. We have set out our stall to defend and hit on the break. The boy Ipekazu is the difference and the nobody would have stopped the first two goals. And now there keeper has made two great saves. Do we need a goal or wot ?

Brad McKay is having a nightmare. McCart on at half time please ! 

Only the post saves us from going 4-0 down. ?

If we lose a 4th without reply we're out of the cup. 

Half Time whistle was feckin sweet 

Tighten up at half time score a goal second half job done we can still do this

 

Trafford and Chalmers are being bypassed - Hearts are playing everything through Lee, Naismith and the very impressive Ipekazu. As we are going direct Doran and polly are also been mainly bypassed. White looks the wrong choice as despite his height he is winning feck all in the air and his holding up play is not the best. Walsh looks the danger but again he usually picks up the ball in the wide areas.

First half a stark reminder that it’s been a looong time since we played a good team.

We were however holding our own before Hearts scored 2 great goals. No answer to that and in Ipekazu he has been immense. And lets add that their keeper had two great saves and we missed a  sitter BUT thankfully we will not be playing this type of team every week. 

Robbo looks like he is going for a goal. Has to be Austin for White. Understandable but also nervy ??