How Hearts found themselves 2-0 down to Hamilton - and the defensive concerns in the relegation battle

When Daniel Stendel was first touted as Craig Levein’s replacement there were plenty of curious glances and queries heading towards Barnsley who the German led into the English Championship.

It seemed apparent the appointment of Stendel would bring with it attacking football, even a ‘we’ll score more than you’ philosophy.

The reality is that the team have slipped to the bottom of the table having lost more than they have won and, of course, conceding more than the opposition along the way.

There has been just one clean sheet in the ten league games under Stendel, and worryingly they appear to have become more vulnerable and increasingly permeable. Fourteen goals have been shipped in the last five Ladbrokes Premiership games (six in the first five)

Two arrived in the first 16 minutes against Hamilton Academical in the relegation scrap at Tynecastle. How did Hearts find themselves in such a grave situation in terms of their survival hopes?

Accies anguish

When the teams were announced, there were plenty of scalps being interrogated by manic fingertips. Hearts had three strikers, plus Jamie Walker, while Hamilton were missing a few key players with David Templeton on the bench.

What transpired was a 4-2-2-2 for Hearts against Accies’ 3-5-2.

The home side were fully expected to take the game to Brian Rice’s men but there was no early intention of sitting back from Hamilton, likely buoyed by what they had seen in Hearts’ games with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.

From the off, Accies weren’t going to allow Hearts to play out from the back, as IMAGE 1 shows. The front two of Marios Ogkmpoe and David Moyo were backed up by ex-Hibs midfielder Scott Martin in pushing high up the park. Zdenek Zlamal, in for Joel Pereira, would pass to John Souttar but he was forced into the corner and had to go long, the ball bouncing through to goalkeeper Luke Southwood.

Southwood aimed the resultant kick out long towards Ogkmpoe. The Greek forward was free to flick it on with Craig Halkett backing off as we can see in IMAGE 2. The header went to strike partner Moyo who pushed it wide to wing-back Scott McMann and a crossing opportunity was worked.

With little creativity behind the strikers or out wide, the game plan was simple from the away side: hit the strike duo early or play balls over the top of the Hearts defence.

Forward fears

In the previous two league encounters Hearts had been caused problems by strike duos who were mobile, hard-working and/or aggressive attackers, either by running in behind or displaying a physical presence.

Seconds before opening the scoring, Hamilton midfielder Will Collar lifted a simple ball over the top (IMAGE 3). Souttar stepped up to play Ogkmpoe offside but Sean Clare didn’t follow suit. The striker was in an offside position but not flagged as he ran through to meet the pass, stinging the hands of Zlamal with a shot. The risk of the high line.

Tynecastle was left stunned in the fifth minute. Collar again knocked a ball forward, more in hope than anything else. Moyo got in front of Souttar, but the ball was deflected past both with Martin showing the awareness and desire to run past Hearts players to get onto the loose ball (IMAGE 4). He squared for Ogkmpoe who had been tying his laces on the edge of the box moments before with some fans questioning offside (IMAGE 5).

Hearts weren’t facing a sophisticated opponent. Play wasn’t elaborate, it was simple, it was direct. And it was effective for Accies.

Stendel’s men were barely able to get into the Hamilton half. The visitors battled and kept play alive when they could, putting Hearts under pressure by playing long and turning the Hearts defence towards their own goal as we can see in IMAGE 6.

At no point did the home side look comfortable.

The second goal was down to Hamilton’s pressing and Hearts’ hesitancy.

Martin, now at right wing-back, pressed Aaron Hickey high up the pitch, forcing the teenager to pass back to Zlamal. The Czech goalkeeper opted to play short with Ogkmpoe baring down on him. Souttar who had Moyo closing him down didn’t expect or want the pass (IMAGE 7) and was ultimately dispossessed.

Clare, getting back to help out, chopped down Ogkmpoe with a rash challenge. The striker made it 2-0.

Problem solving

Hearts managed to recover from their position, helped by Jamie Hamilton’s red card in the 21st minute. The one point gap to Accies in 11th place remains intact. But do the serious concerns about the club’s Premiership survival.

It is both obvious and imperative that the defensive problems need solved. Hearts are too easy to play against, creating more chances for the opposition than they do for themselves.

The most worrying aspect is that it is Scottish football 101 the team as a whole are struggling with: being pressurised, long balls, passes in behind and set pieces.

A defensive partnership of Halkett and Souttar which looked so assured in the 0-0 draw at Ross County and for most of the 2-1 win over Rangers now appears to be muddled. They shouldn’t be getting bettered and bullied by Ogkmpoe and Moyo. But the reality is they are.

When Hearts lose the ball there appears to be a disconnect and disorganisation, a lot of the defending falls into the last ditch category.

Stendel’s desire to implement his own strategy is admirable but something isn’t quite clicking as more goals are given up than are being scored. And until the team get a grasp of the basics of defending they will remain in a perilous position.