IF this is how the Hearts fans react to a winning team, then heaven help Craig Levein when results start to go against them.
The cacophony of jeers that rained down on the manager and his players at New Bayview at the conclusion of the draw they required to book their place in the last 16 of the Betfred Cup told the story of the mood around Tynecastle right now.
Hearts may be doing enough to see off lower-league opposition but the stodginess of their performances and a costly inability to take chances remain a significant concern for their supporters.
Levein, to be fair, was not hugely enamoured either with what he had just witnessed after East Fife cancelled out Jamie Walker’s first-half goal and then went on to triumph in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
Hearts have a week to get up to speed for their opening league match against Aberdeen and Levein, backed by recent evidence, is confident that they will.
“We’re through and we’ve topped the group but it’s not how I wanted to do it,” he said. “With us not scoring when we should, the opposition get a bit of a lift and then it starts to creep into the confidence. Our fans expect us to win but I expect us to win. There’s nobody more disappointed than me.
“It was the same last season when we struggled to get through against Raith Rovers and the supporters were unhappy. And then we started the league season particularly well. I’m a little bit annoyed but we’re through to the next stage of the cup.”
The penalties meant nothing to Hearts when all they needed was a draw but could mean the world to East Fife for whom Aaron Dunsmore, a former Hearts and Hibs youth player, scored the winning penalty.
Barring a draw between Dundee and Inverness Caley today, the League One side will be in the hat for the last 16, much to manager Darren Young’s delight.
“It’s a real feel-good factor for us,” he said. “Hopefully there’s not a draw between Dundee and Inverness then it would be a case of seeing who we can get in the next round.”
At least Levein can take some comfort from another assured performance from Craig Halkett. Recruited primarily for his defensive capabilities, the former Livingston player has so far proved a useful asset at the other end of the pitch. He augmented his three goals in this competition with another telling contribution to help Hearts claim a 15th-minute lead.
Showing customary bravery to win a tackle on the touchline, he then demonstrated dead-eye composure as well as he zipped the perfect centre right across the penalty box. Walker, from a matter of yards, simply couldn’t miss.
Hearts were so in control that it seemed only a matter of time before they made sure of the victory with a second goal. It never arrived. There were chances, most notably through the lumbering figure of Uche Ikpeazu who exuded a stream of sighs and groans from an exasperated
travelling support.
His header from a corner was touched over, while another opportunity ended up in the side netting. Either side of those chances, Walker shot over the top from close range.
East Fife had to soak up a lot of pressure but could have sneaked an equaliser with their only chance of the first half. Scott Agnew’s free kick fell kindly for Chris Duggan and, although his shot was on target, Bobby Zlamal was sufficiently alert to push it over his crossbar. The goalkeeper would have been grateful just for something to do.
His next task, however, would be to fish the ball out of his net. The home side opened the second half with renewed purpose and within eight minutes had fashioned an unlikely equaliser. Ryan Wallace’s cross was missed by Agnew but not by the diligent Duggan who shot high into the net.
A boisterous travelling support that was already getting increasingly frustrated threatened to self-combust with rage. And it did not get any better over the remainder of the 90 minutes as their League One opponents threatened to snatch a winning goal, while Hearts at the other end were toiling to make anything happen in attack.
A Michael Smith driven effort that drifted narrowly wide and then an Olly Bozanic free kick pushed over was the closest they came to scoring before the end of regulation time. The boos told the story of their unhappiness.
East Fife Long, Murdoch, Dunlop, Higgins, Slattery, Watt (Dowds 80), Agnew, Hunter (R Davidson 63), Dunsmore, Wallace, Duggan. Subs not used Watson, A Davidson, Laird, Lamont, Hart.
Hearts Zlamal, Smith, Halkett, Berra, Hickey, Zanatta (Keena 63), Clare, Irving (Bozanic 68), Mulraney, Walker, Ikpeazu (MacLean 80). Subs not used Doyle, Cochrane, Dikamona, Smith. Booked Irving.
Referee David Munro. Attendance 1,998.
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