Critchley Urges Hearts to 'Stand Up' as Troubles Deepen: Are Relegation Fears Justified?
Heart of Midlothian's head coach Neil Critchley has called on his team to "stand up as a group" following their dismal exit from the Conference League and a troubling domestic campaign. After drawing 2-2 with Moldovan club Petrocub at home, the Edinburgh side's European hopes came to an abrupt end, adding to a season already mired in disappointment.
Relegation Fears and Domestic Struggles
The 2-2 draw with Petrocub, a team who had already finished bottom of the Conference League group, marked a new low for Hearts. Their current plight sees them sitting at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership after 17 games, the same position they were in when Critchley took over in October. In the 14 matches since his appointment, Critchley has won just four games, a record that has left many questioning his ability to turn the club's fortunes around.
Allan Preston, a former Tynecastle left-back, “They have serious problems. They could be relegated this season. It simply isn’t good enough. The fans deserve better, a lot better." Preston’s assessment is a stark reminder of the gravity of Hearts' current situation as they struggle to regain form and climb away from the relegation zone.
A Season of Missed Opportunities
The team's troubles were further highlighted in their most recent match against Kilmarnock, where Hearts were defeated by 10-man Kilmarnock in a woeful performance. Despite the European draw being a chance to create history, securing progression to the knockout stages, Hearts faltered once again. They were unable to defeat a Petrocub team who have won just once away from home in European competition. The result left the Tynecastle faithful frustrated, with the atmosphere becoming toxic as the team went into halftime trailing by a goal.
Preston predicted that Critchley’s position was increasingly under threat: “A result like this, fans will switch off to Critchley, he’ll be done. There will be no coming back. It looks like the players are not up for this. The performance has been rubbish, absolutely rubbish.”
The Search for Answers and Critchley’s Commitment
Following the draw, Critchley admitted that his side had “not done enough,” acknowledging that their poor performances could no longer be blamed on external factors. Hearts’ captain, Lawrence Shankland, shared a similar sentiment, saying, "We’ve only got ourselves to blame... it’s not been there all season – it’s been disappointing." While Shankland praised the team’s character during difficult moments, he emphasized the lack of quality that has plagued Hearts this season.
A Crucial Festive Period Ahead
With the Conference League now a distant memory, Hearts must focus all their efforts on avoiding relegation. Three of their next four matches will be played at Tynecastle, starting with St Johnstone on Saturday, followed by a highly anticipated Edinburgh derby against Hibernian on Boxing Day. Preston warned that unless there is a significant improvement in performance, Hearts’ struggles could continue: “It hasn’t been good enough this season. Legs seem to have gone from some of these Hearts players. They are not at the level required.”
The festive fixtures will provide an early indication of whether Critchley can inspire a turnaround. If Hearts fail to improve, the club’s place in the Scottish Premiership could be in jeopardy.