Hearts are 'devastated' at cup exit

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today revealed that his players are "devastated" at failing to clinch a place in the semi-final of the CIS Cup.

The Jambos crashed out to Dundee after extra-time at Dens Park last night, Robert Linn’s strike in the 107th minute enough to take the Dark Blues through to a last-four spot.

It was the Gorgie outfit’s third loss in a matter of days following the UEFA Cup exit at the hands of Bordeaux and Sunday’s loss to Dundee United, the disappointing run coming after six successive victories.

Hearts put in a mammoth effort at Dens but were left to rue a lack of quality in the final third of the park, but Levein insists he will not have a problem lifting his men for Saturday’s testing league trip to Dunfermline. "We didn’t start the game well last night and Dundee were on top," he said. "We were not getting tight enough in midfield but managed to sort that out after about 25 minutes.

"The match then ebbed and flowed and there were periods when both sides were in charge. It was a probably a good cup-tie to watch with both teams committed to going forward. It was a game when we did everything that was required physically but we didn’t have that bit of luck or touch of quality that might have got us through. The players are devastated at not getting a chance to play in a semi-final but I suppose there is always the Scottish Cup now. I don’t want to make too much of losing three games in a row, just as I didn’t make too much of us winning six matches in a row before that as I knew we hadn’t done particularly well in some of them.

"We have had five games in a fortnight and obviously I’d have loved to have won them all. We set high standards by winning six in a row but anybody who had been at some of those matches we won would say we didn’t play particularly well and got a break here and there."

He added: "If I saw doubt creeping in and the heads going down it would be a worry for me. But how can I doubt them after the workrate they put in at Dens Park last night.

"I can’t complain and if they keep doing that, it will turn for us.

"It is a matter of concentrating on Saturday’s game now and trying to put in a similar level of effort and I’ll take what I get after that. It is a big game for us at Dunfermline but we are six points clear in third place in the SPL and if you had offered me that at the start of the season I’d have taken it. I think it’s pretty good going."

Hearts fans, meanwhile, have been praised by Dundee for their generosity at last night’s cup tie.

Cash collections to help the debt-ridden club were made at Dens Park, with more than £10,000 said to have been raised for the ‘Dee 4 Life’ campaign by the crowd of 7130.

And the travelling Jambos, who applauded Dundee boss Jim Duffy off the pitch at the end and received similar acknowledgement from the Dark Blues chief, were today thanked for their contributions.

"The Hearts fans were very generous at the game," said George Knight, Chairman of the Dundee Supporters Association.

"They were fantastic and even bought some ‘Dee 4 Life’ T-shirts.

"Their efforts were greatly appreciated by everyone at the club."

Levein and his players, meanwhile, will have their first look at Dunfermline’s new plastic pitch when they train at East End Park tomorrow.

Taken from the Scotsman