It was a night to forget for Hearts B as Gala Fairydean Rovers ran out 4-0 winners at Ainslie Park on Friday night.
The Jambos struggled to create any clear chances as they were stifled by a compact Gala side who chased down Hearts at every opportunity to retain possession and looked far more threatening in attack.
Gala were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute after Jamie Semple was chopped down in the box.
Skipper Daniel Galbraith converted from the spot with a right footed strike which went off the inside of the post and in for 1-0.
Gala doubled their advantage on 31 minutes. The ball was cleared out following a corner by the Hearts defence and it came out to Keaghan Jacobs at the edge of the area. He took a touch before rifling a strike into the top left corner for 2-0.
Half-time: Heart of Midlothian 0-2 Gala Fairydean Rovers
The away side continued to look dangerous in the second half and soon added to their lead.
On 54 minutes, Che Reilly whipped in a cross from the right wing which found Semple at the back post who nodded it in from close range for 3-0.
With 20 minutes to go, Semple turned the provider after he cut it back to Liam Hoggan at the edge of the Hearts penalty area. He chopped onto his right foot before curling it into the top right corner to make it four.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, head coach Angus Beith said:
“We didn’t execute the basics well enough tonight. Basic things out of possession, competing, getting close, making contact, picking up second balls, we didn’t do it at all.
“In possession, I was really disappointed with how we passed to each other, they weren’t helping each other out with a thought of what they were going to do next. There was a naivety to us there.
“As soon as you don’t do the basics well enough in a game, you put yourself in trouble. Gala did these things well and looked full of confidence.”
The manager looked ahead to next Tuesday’s home clash against East Kilbride.
“We’re coming up against probably the best team in the league. If we don’t execute the basics, then we’ll be in big trouble. We need to make sure we nail that, and then we can implement our style and impose ourselves on them.”
Hearts: Tas, Nair ©, Smutek, Duncan, Gillies (Plank 52’) Ross, Crookston, James (Glasgow 52’), Hogarth, Osborne (Robb 52’), Haddow (Mulholland 77’)
Subs: MacDonald, Plank, Robb, Mulholland, Glasgow
Gala Fairydean Rovers: Pazikas, Hoggan, Hall, Jacobs, Semple, Galbraith ©, Reilly, Mair, Dougal, Greene, Lyons
Subs: Balfour, Suleyman, Beasley, Rennie, Wylie, Watt, Dolan
