LACK OF DEPTH BREAKS HEARTS

Hearts manager George Burley claims his side's shock CIS Insurance Cup third-round defeat to Livingston at Almondvale underlines the doubts he has had all season about the Gorgie club's championship aspirations.

Burley was forced to field a weakened side due to injuries, with 17-year-old striker Jamie Mole making his first-team debut whilst fringe players Lee Wallace, Stephen Simmons, Deividas Cesnauskis and Samuel Camazzola all got a run-out.

However a second-half strike by former Hearts player Ramon Pereira sunk the lacklustre visitors, who have to get back in shape quickly to face Rangers in their crunch Bank of Scotland Premier League game at Tynecastle on Saturday.

The Edinburgh club go into the game top of the table after seven straight wins but Burley said: "I don't want to sound like an old gramophone record but I said that my squad isn't good enough to compete with the Old Firm. This defeat emphasises the point I've been making all season.

"We had seven players out and we haven't got a squad that can cope with that.

"We haven't got the quality that we are looking for and it will take a couple of seasons for me to have a team capable of challenging the Old Firm.

"People have said that I should say otherwise but I have told the truth, the squad isn't strong enough.

"I can't fault the players for effort but the quality isn't there.

"We were second best for a lot of the game in difficult conditions. But all credit to Livingston.

"We gave the ball away too easily and we never had enough going forward and if you don't have that, then you will struggle to win games."

Livingston player-manager Paul Lambert refused to concede his side's victory was diminished by the relative weakness of the visitors.

The Almondvale men have yet to win an SPL game this season but Lambert is hoping his team have now turned the corner.

He said: "It doesn't matter who is playing for them, they are still good players and some of them were internationals.

"Our opponents were there on merit and it's still a big win for us.

"I thought we were terrific straight from the kick-off and we gave everything we had and it was also a good goal we scored.

"The confidence has never been lacking but hopefully this can kick-start our season and will try to get a win in the league on Saturday."

Taken from sportinglife.com