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.

26 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Could be the best thing that happened to us. Hearts were on a high today and all it did was to simply show that we are far from being a team that could hold its own in the premier division. Perhaps we got the tactics wrong at the start but you cant foresee those first two goals.  Falkirk will provide us with more answers.

Nail/head/hammer etc 

12 minutes ago, GoliathGrunt said:

Diddy cup anyway! 

One we were gutted to lose the final of on penalties not so very long ago and one we would have been delighted to progress further in this season.

- Punished by clinical finishing. 

- Defending set pieces / crosses to be addressed. 

- We created plenty chances but didn't put the ball in the back of the net. 

Learn from this and move on. 

8 minutes ago, cif73 said:

I hear what you're saying but this isn't vultures ... calm yourself! This is just a bit raw just now. Look at Hearts results in Betfred. We could have lost 3-0 (which would have been disappointing given our form and their form). But we lost 5 (FIVE) 0.

 

Of course it is vultures. There should not be any of this species of posters flying about and spreading their venom at this stage of the season. I am calm and it is raw but again hopefully a big learning curve. What form - against who ? Again watch the first 3 goals. Hearts had a better team and then they had confidence and the impulse to go for the jugular.

27 minutes ago, Hiro said:

He deserves credit for turning things around over the last 6 months but Robbo has to carry the can for that one.  We were on an 18 game unbeaten run and the system was changed to something designed primarily not to hammered. We very much got what we deserved with that.

This defeat has further reaching consequences than just this 90 minutes.

1) the club has been deprived of much needed revenue from the next round particularly if we got a glamour tie that could have been shown on TV

2) how does this affect the players just a week from the season opener.

 

Home tie v Celtic we've missed out on. With TV that could be £50k of much needed ££ that we won't get.  Very frustrating, big performance required next week to get the season properly started

I think TV money is pulled and included in prize money for this tournament....same as IrnBru Cup.

 

Let' hope Sean Welsh is an upgrade on Chalmers and Trafford. Both really struggled. Chalmers defending for Naismiths goal was a joke. 

Pinched from Pie and Bovril

Robbo on BT described it as "embarrassing" and "schoolboy defending" for four of the goals. Would agree to three of them. Hopefully defensive changes will be made. Lets hope that the lash back is next week.

4 minutes ago, Hiro said:

Home tie v Celtic we've missed out on. With TV that could be £50k of much needed ££ that we won't get.  Very frustrating, big performance required next week to get the season properly started

The season and the MAIN focus does only start next week.

8 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Robbo on BT described it as "embarrassing" and "schoolboy defending" for four of the goals. Would agree to three of them. Hopefully defensive changes will be made. Lets hope that the lash back is next week.

Is that any different from what the "vultures" were saying?!

JR was bang on by the way and nobody is calling for his head.

Regarding form, Hearts came into this game beating Cove by a goal and Raith on pens. Wow!!

In that context, the 2nd best team in the group getting pumped by 5 (4 of which were crosses that could have been defended better) is a disappointing result ... surely in anyone's book.

JR also rightly said we should be able to set ourselves up to not lose by 4.

'Nough said.   

1 minute ago, cif73 said:

Is that any different from what the "vultures" were saying?!

JR was bang on by the way and nobody is calling for his head.

Regarding form, Hearts came into this game beating Cove by a goal and Raith on pens. Wow!!

In that context, the 2nd best team in the group getting pumped by 5 (4 of which were crosses that could have been defended better) is a disappointing result ... surely in anyone's book.

JR also rightly said we should be able to set ourselves up to not lose by 4.

'Nough said.   

Of course it is different - are you feeling guilty ? It was Robbo's responsibility for the way that he started - He is undoubtedly "rawer" than anyone else and will undoubtedly reflect when he sees the replays. The first three goals were unstoppable. Perhaps White being the "defender" for one was a mistake BUT who made that call. Were you actually watching the game ? Hearts were immense when they got started. You started your response well but turned into a vulture again by the close.

18 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Robbo on BT described it as "embarrassing" and "schoolboy defending" for four of the goals. Would agree to three of them. Hopefully defensive changes will be made. Lets hope that the lash back is next week.

I agree with Robbo.  We must learn from this defeat and have the right set up for next week.  Crucial we get off to a good start this league season.

3 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

turned into a vulture again by the close.

Just wow 

Abject. Abysmal. 

5 minutes ago, cif73 said:

Just wow 

 

2 minutes ago, TopSix said:

Abject. Abysmal. 

Be an eagle NOT a vulture. Grieve and look forward don't Gripe and be negative.

8 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Be an eagle NOT a vulture. Grieve and look forward don't Gripe and be negative.

Looking back at the posts when the goals were conceded, you were fairly critical yourself ?

3 minutes ago, cif73 said:

Looking back at the posts when the goals were conceded, you were fairly critical yourself ?

Big difference between the wise old constructive criticism of the eagle and the reactive dismissal of the fledgling vulture. Note that you have lost your pack who have probably and hopefully taken things on board.

A bad day at the office, but let's move on and focus on next Saturday.

Hearts started quickly, but once we settled, the first 25 minutes were quite even, and it could have been different had Chalmers effort gone in.

Three quick fire, well taken goals kicked the stuffing out of us, and then their 'keeper had a couple of decent saves before half time.

The two Naismith goals were disappointing, and we could not take the chances we had, the best falling to Austin, but Hearts could have had more, with the woodwork saving us twice and Ridgers having some saves.

It could easily have finished 9-3!

I assume Tremarco had a knock when he was substituted.

Looking forward, I would give McCart game time alongside Donaldson. Midfield is a worry, as we have no one doing the "dirty work" well: how we missed Vigurs today. Beith or Welsh may be the answer, but not seen either yet.

Austin needs to be our first pick up front.

A bad day, but I don't feel we were humiliated, just beaten by a better team who clicked on the day.

Hopefully Robbo picks them up for Saturday.

Edited July 29, 20187 yr by Robert

3 minutes ago, Robert said:

A bad day at the office, but let's move on and focus on next Saturday.

Hearts started quickly, but once we settled, the first 25 minutes were quite even, and it could have been different had Chalmers effort gone in.

Three quick fire, well taken goals kicked the stuffing out of us, and then their 'keeper had a couple of decent saves before half time.

The two Naismith goals were disappointing, and we could not take the chances we had, the best falling to Austin, but Hearts could have had more, with the woodwork saving us twice and Ridgers having some saves.

It could easily have finished 9-3!

I assume Tremarco had a knock when he was substituted.

Looking forward, I would give McCart game time alongside Donaldson. Midfield is a worry, as we have no one doing the "dirty work" well: how we missed Vigurs today. Beith or Welsh may be the answer, but not seen either yet.

Austin needs to be our first pick up front.

A bad day, but I don't feel we were humiliated, just beaten by a better team who clicked on the day.

Hopefully Robbo picks them up for Saturday.

The closes thing to an Eagle all day. ?

The goals were stoppable by the defenders closing down the players who struck the ball and not allow them the space and room to get shots or headers on target. 

6 minutes ago, MorayJaggie said:

The goals were stoppable by the defenders closing down the players who struck the ball and not allow them the space and room to get shots or headers on target. 

From a free kick ?

Very disappointing to see this scoreline. Hearts knew they needed to win and would have been well up for this all we needed was a solid back 4 which sadly, if going by many comments, didnt turn up today. Im hoping if anything positive comes from today it has allowed Robbo to identify the weak links at the back and reorganise for the upcoming games and going out allows us to focus on the League.

Many happy faces in the Nations Capitol sadly the same cannot be said in the Highland Capitol. Dust ourselves off and look forward and try to ignore this sick feeling. 

1 hour ago, cif73 said:

Is that any different from what the "vultures" were saying?!

JR was bang on by the way and nobody is calling for his head.

Regarding form, Hearts came into this game beating Cove by a goal and Raith on pens. Wow!!

In that context, the 2nd best team in the group getting pumped by 5 (4 of which were crosses that could have been defended better) is a disappointing result ... surely in anyone's book.

JR also rightly said we should be able to set ourselves up to not lose by 4.

'Nough said.   

The Tarts actually came into this game off the back of a 5-0 against Cowdenbeath and had sorted out their issues from the first two games. They showed in parts how good a team they could be and overall I'm not that worried as we won't be facing that quality many times this season. Ok it was a bad day at the office and the result was disappointing, but lessons have been learnt and I doubt we'll be on the receiving end of a similar result any time soon - bring on the Bairns!