Deja-vu for Hearts fans in latest Killie defeat

Hearts fans of all ages will have witnessed this type of game dozens of times over the decades. The team going well, challenging for a high league position or to reach the later stages of a Cup – then for some bizarre reason, the players just don`t perform to their previous standard. Decision-making and ball control look sloppy, the referee makes some silly decisions, and too many Hearts players fall into the trap of arguing with him and so lose their focus and creativity. Meanwhile the opponents grab a goal or two through clever and focused football, and win the game. Big anti-climax.

It was Groundhog Day again today at Tynecastle against Kilmarnock, who deservedly beat us back in October. It`s not surprising that their players raise their game in an effort to beat their old manager – although they have had some plaudits generally for their style of play this season. Their goals came from Silva and Eremenko early in the second half, both through incisive attacks after Hearts had lost possession cheaply. In the same way that Aberdeen had done the previous week, Kilmarnock took advantage of poor ball control by Hearts players receiving a pass – by anticipating the re-bound and nipping in to grab possession. Sadly, our players seemed unable to use the same tactic on the Killie players.

Hearts can point to the fact that Black and Palazuelos were missing through suspension, while Wallace, Kyle and Webster were injured. However the squad has sufficient depth to still be expected to compete well in the SPL without these guys.

If anyone doubted the threat and composure that Lee Wallace brings to the team, then the effect his absence today had was clear to see. His deputy Eggert Jonsson looked decidedly shaky, and his attempts to carve openings on the left with Templeton and Skacel were mostly woeful. On the other flank, Craig Thomson had a decent first-half before losing the place completely in the second. His crosses were poor, and he gave the ball away a lot too – the first goal coming from one such example.

Suso Santana and David Templeton did ok in terms of effort and trying to get forward, but didn`t get enough support from Skacel and Stevenson or the full-backs.

Referee Steven McLean`s performance attracted a lot of criticism from both sets of fans over lots of incidents. However I thought this was a bit exaggerated – the sending off of Eremenko looked a bit harsh, and he seemed to interpret a few innocuous challenges by both teams as fouls, but generally he did ok.

So Hearts now have 10 days to get things sorted out, with a visit to Tannadice on Wednesday 16th. We have to hope that JJ instils in the players the need to have much better movement and focus than we have seen recently – lets` hope the return of Wallace, Black and Palazuelos improves things too !!