Robbo: My worst day at Hearts

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss John Robertson today labelled the "embarrassing" performance against Motherwell at Fir Park as the worst he had witnessed since taking charge.

The Gorgie legend has been at the helm for almost four months and was left furious at the shambolic display which saw the Jambos slump to a 2-0 defeat, goals from Scott McDonald and Marc Fitzpatrick sending the visitors crashing to their first league defeat of 2005.

It was his side’s fourth loss of the season against the Steelmen and the margin of defeat could easily have been more had it not been for the performance of goalkeeper Craig Gordon, the youngster saving a first-half penalty as well as producing a handful of other good stops.

Robertson admitted he felt sorry for the large contingent of Hearts supporters who made the journey to Lanarkshire hoping to see their team maintain the pressure on arch rivals Hibs in the race for third spot.

However, the setback coupled with the Hibees’ emphatic 4-0 win over Dundee, has seen the Jambos fall six points behind Tony Mowbray’s side.

"The performance against Motherwell was the poorest since I came to the club," said Robertson.

"The annoying thing was that they outfought us and thoroughly deserved their victory. One thing you have to do in every match is show hunger, commitment and attitude and Motherwell did that at the weekend.

"Sometimes you have two or three players not doing well but at Fir Park with the exception of the performance of Craig Gordon, there weren’t any positives to take from the match. I was embarrassed to be manager of Hearts on Saturday and it is me who carries the can as I pick the team."

Attention will now turn to the Tennent’s Scottish Cup with Hearts playing host to SPL bottom dogs Livingston in Sunday’s quarter-final showdown.

The Jambos will have to raise their game considerably if a last-four berth is to be contemplated and Robertson has demanded his players don’t forget the dismal 90 minutes against Motherwell in the build-up to the cup tie.

"I don’t want anyone to forget about that display and I want it to stay in their minds as we prepare to face Livingston in the Scottish Cup this weekend," he said.

Hearts are due to take on Motherwell in the SPL reserve league tomorrow afternoon at Stenhousemuir (kick-off 2pm), while the Under-19s face Livingston at Fauldhouse on Friday.

Taken from the Scotsman