Neil Critchley warned his Hearts flops they must learn to handle the abuse after a night of Euro humiliation at Tynecastle – because the flak isn’t going to disappear.
A 2-2 draw with Moldovan minnows Petrocub – who finish the Conference League bottom of the table – saw the Jambos blow the chance of a first Euro run beyond Christmas for 35 years. Tynecastle turned toxic as the manager, players, chairman Ann Budge and the board were all targeted with vitriol from the stands.
Second half goals from James Wilson and Blair Spittal looked to have saved the day after Sergio Platica’s opener – only for a late Victor Mudrac penalty to send the Jambos spinning out. From looking odds-on to qualify after winning their first two league phase games, Hearts have taken just one point from the next four games. Critchley, who has won just four of his 14 games in charge, now has to pick his side up for Sunday’s clash with St Johnstone as they look to climb off the bottom of the Premiership.
He said: “We are all angry and frustrated with what’s happened on the pitch. It is a challenge but it’s not going away, it’s there.
“You can only respond, you have a couple of choices – our choice is to show fight, togetherness and spirit. I’m still confident there’s more than enough in the dressing-room to improve our situation.
“It’s natural to feel a certain way when you’re not producing the results we want, that’s human nature. When you’re winning games and scoring goals everyone is playing with confidence and freedom.
“If not, you have to work your way out of that period. That’s this business, that’s the game. You go through sticky periods and when you do that – which I’m confident this team will do – you’ll be better for it.
“When we were in the ascendancy and on the front foot, the supporters got behind is When we were losing they were understandably frustrated so you have to rise above that noise and block it out.
“That’s football now, that’s not just at Tynecastle that’s everywhere.”
Hearts missed out on a play-off spot by one place in the table and on goal difference – costing them around £1million. Critchley added: “This was a big opportunity but it’s not just on tonight, we had six games and we didn’t do enough. We have to live with that.
“We were all aware of what this competition and a win tonight would have meant for the football club. Finances is not my domain, I’m here to coach the team and make us improve and get better results.”
Gutted Jambos skipper Lawrence Shankland conceded his team mates never did enough – and admitted he felt the hostility from the stands. He said: “We only have ourselves to blame. They were solid defensively, they were hard to break down. I thought the boys showed good character because it got a bit hostile out there from early doors.
“We had to stand up to it. We managed to get ourselves back into it and get ahead, from that position, we should really win the game, it’s not a game we should draw or lose, unfortunately we have drawn.”