Heart of Midlothian

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Former defender Ryan McGowan believes Hearts are going through a "transition period" and will need more time to adapt under Wouter Vrancken.

Amid an injury-ravaged spell, the Tynecastle side dropped to fourth in the Premiership on Sunday following a 5-2 home defeat by Falkirk.

Vrancken's side have looked dangerous in attack but vulnerable off the ball as the Belgian attempts to implement a different style from that of his predecessor, Derek McInnes.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Hearts player McGowan said: "At the moment, Hearts are in that transition period, when there are still some players there who weren't brought in under this philosophy.

"They're still probably getting up to speed or are maybe not capable of playing the way the manager wants them to play. They'll just take that little bit longer to adapt to it.

"He is possibly having to simplify the way he wants to play because of the players available. And then players also need to take responsibility."

Hearts have been plagued by serious injury problems, as well as defensive troubles, having conceded eight goals in their past two games. However, McGowan believes their problems cannot be attributed to one factor.

"There's obviously issues there because you don't concede that number of goals if there aren't any issues," he added.

"There are so many goals they've conceded in the last six weeks that are just individual errors.

"I just feel like you can't pinpoint Hearts' issues at the moment on one thing. It's a massive combination of all of them."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

Last week, we debated in a Hearts group chat whether the meek 3-0 defeat in Thun was among Hearts' worst performances this century. By half-time on Sunday, at 4-0 down, the Falkirk game had taken that unwanted crown for me.

I cannot remember three consecutive displays getting progressively worse: humbled by Hibs at Hampden, thumped by Thun, then filleted by Falkirk.

Every Jambo feels obliged to mention the injury crisis. It is a factor, but it cannot excuse what we watched over those 90 minutes.

At 5-0, I genuinely feared another couple. Thankfully for Wouter Vrancken, Hearts scored the two consolation goals. Fine margins? Had those late goals gone Falkirk's way, I suspect his position would have been untenable.

The players deserve criticism for the alarming lack of fight and leadership. Some may never play for Hearts again. But the questions cannot stop with them. Vrancken needs to answer a few himself.

He called the performance a "disgrace", yet he chose to set us up so expansively once again. Stuart Findlay's mistake for the opener is easy to highlight, but it came from trying to play out rather than doing what comes naturally: clearing the ball into row Z.

His treatment of Findlay troubles me too. Hooked after 30 minutes at Kilmarnock, then effectively told he could not play the required style, he has been reluctantly restored because of injuries.

This is the same Findlay who played in one of the league's best defences last season, for a side that spent more than six months top of the Premiership. He has not suddenly become a dud.

And while Jambos look forward to Craig Halkett returning, where does he fit in? If Findlay is exposed by these tactics, how can Halkett, with his lack of pace, be expected to defend so far from goal after a long-term injury?

Vrancken has to adapt. He cannot keep asking players to do things that do not suit them.

With Hearts' accounts showing almost £8m invested in an already sizeable squad, the answer is not six January signings. It is making better use of what we have.

Yes, Hearts have 12 first-team players injured. But Hibees tell me they have at least eight out too, forcing their boss to adapt his tactics. Why can't ours?

Vrancken has blooded teenagers Matty Gillies and Leart Kabashi, and fans expect both to feature after the international break. More academy players may be needed while injured team-mates regain fitness and match sharpness.

His choice is clear. Adapt to the players available or trust youngsters in his preferred system. They can hardly do worse than the so-called experienced pros.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Former Hearts player and manager Craig Levein is urging "patience" amid a poor run of form under head coach Wouter Vrancken.

The Jambos have registered only two wins in their past 11 matches across all competitions, including a 7-1 defeat at Celtic and Sunday's 5-2 loss at home against Falkirk.

They were also knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup by rivals Hibernian at the start of this month.

But Levein has empathy with Vrancken and believes their current injury situation means his early spell at Hearts can't be judged properly.

"As a manager, you want to have all of your best players available," Levein said.

"Sometimes if you lose the three best centre-backs, you're stuck, the window's closed, there's nothing you can do about it.

"It's very, very difficult to judge what the new manager's bringing to the club until he gets a run of games when he's got all his players available. I urge people just to be a little bit more patient.

"It's been a very, very difficult time for the manager. The fact Derek [McInnes] did such a fantastic job last season, getting right down to the wire, everybody's expectation was, 'That's us nearly done it last year, can we go and do it this year?'.

"The new manager comes in, he's starting from scratch almost, and he gets this whole list of injuries that make things extremely difficult.

"But we have to give the guy time.

"I think the supporters early on have got a wee taste of what things might be like, and I'm urging them just to keep that in your mind and give the guy a little bit of time."

Hearts forward Claudio Braga reveals there was a sense of shame in the Tynecastle dressing room after Sunday's 5-2 defeat by Falkirk. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken hopes the impending return of up to 12 first-team players will help end his side's recent slump.

The Tynecastle outfit were without 11 players for Sunday's 5-2 defeat by Falkirk and defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott went off injured in the second half.

However, Vrancken hopes Fagan-Walcott's issue is not serious and is expecting a more rounded squad to choose from after the international break.

Eduardo Ageu, Tomas Magnusson, Rogers Mato, Blair Spittal, Oisin McEntee and Christian Borchgrevink could all feature at Dundee on 21 November.

"I think Eddie would be back, because he's already training in the team," said the head coach, offering an update on the injuries. "Tomas, for sure, because he has his protocol with the concussion.

"I think Spitts and Osh will be 50-50 when we come back. Mato, hopefully, if everything goes well.

"Christian is also maybe one who will be on the edge of coming back at this moment. I think these are the players [that are close].

"Stephen [Kingsley], we have to wait for the scan."

Hearts have only won two of their past 11 matches in all competitions, but Vrancken insists they can get back on track.

"I'm pretty confident in this, especially when we get numbers back, because these guys showed already what qualities and what extras they can bring on the pitch," he said.

We asked for your views after Hearts slumped to a humiliating 5-2 Scottish Premiership defeat at home to in-form Falkirk.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gina: Our defence is a nightmare. This needs to be sorted. I know we have a high number of injuries, but I think the manager should be addressing this as it's a constant issue.

Steve: The manager has to stand up and take his share of the blame for these miserable performances. Sabah Kerjota is a winger and offers little in midfield, so we're left with Laurent Mendy and Yan Dhanda exposed. We have five central strikers on the books, yet none are classed as prolific goalscorers.

Liam: All the giddiness and joy within our fanbase about 'dumping the old dinosaur' Derek McInnes and replacing him with this new, exciting, attacking saviour of football, Wouter Vrancken, is gone, binned, flushed down the toilet. Anyone with a set of eyes could see this coming. After the heartbreak of last year, we've jumped into bed with the first person we found and have been pretending for months that this new person is a million times better than our ex.

Iain: Where do you even begin to analyse that performance? Another series of individual defensive calamities continues to serve up goals as gifts to opposition players.

Bryan: I'm not sure how Mr Vrancken has got away with his teams defending in this manner at previous clubs, but nice phases of attacking play on the ball will only get you so far when we look absolutely and utterly devoid of shape, structure, grit or any clue what to do without the ball. This needs to be fixed. Pronto.

David: Players who understand their roles and do the simple things well. A manager who is able to get the best out of his team and is tactically astute. That's Falkirk! Meanwhile, we stumble along, making the same mistakes time after time. Of course, the horrific injury situation does not help, but we cannot continually use that as an excuse for very poor individual performances.

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken is "pretty confident" form will improve when he gets players back from injury and hopes defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott's injury is "not too bad". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

Merciless Falkirk extended their Scottish Premiership winning run to five games and replaced Hearts in third spot with a brilliant victory at Tynecastle.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the match here

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken told BBC Scotland: "I can't explain. It was just an embarrassment in the first half, simple as that, how easy it was for Falkirk to score their goals.

"It's crazy and we said at half time, with the run of games, you have to have some pride in these moments."

"When the youngsters came in, it increased the level and you maybe expect the other players to have that personality and leadership to do this.

"So the second half was better, but the first half was a disgrace.

"It can be confidence, or it can be fatigue, but individual mistakes are difficult to prevent.

"Hopefully we get some bodies back, some tactical awareness back with players who were performing well before.

"You need a bit of rotation because you need some rest.

"The biggest responsibility is always with the coach, but today was just too much doubt in decision making."

Landry Kabore, who was told along with fellow forward Amadou Ba-Sy to show more desire and intensity on the pitch if they wanted to play in Wouter Vrancken's Hearts side, could earn a fresh opportunity against Falkirk on Sunday after an energetic performance against Thun on Thursday. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Hearts winger Sabah Kerjota is determined to play against Falkirk on Sunday despite damaging his arm in Thursday's Conference League tie against Thun. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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John McGlynn has warned his Falkirk players to ignore talk of a crisis at Hearts.

The Tynecastle side's injury woes deepened during their Conference League defeat to Thun on Thursday with Stephen Kingsley suffering a hamstring problem.

Days earlier Hearts lost Tomas Magnusson to concussion and former Falkirk midfielder Calvin Miller to a knee injury that will keep him out for two months.

Head coach Wouter Vrancken is also missing Harry Milne, Christian Borchgrevink, Oisin McEntee, Ageu, Craig Halkett, Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud.

But McGlynn is not underestimating the test that awaits his Falkirk side at Tynecastle on Sunday.

"They've not been beaten at home [in the league] in 18-19 months," the Bairns boss said.

"They've got a proud record there and it's not going to be easy. Yeah, they've got injuries, absolutely, it's a fact. But they can still put 11 good players on the park.

"They might be a little bit lighter on the bench, but they can still put a good 11 players on the pitch.

"We're not going to get too caught up in the injuries that they have. I sympathise with the manager, he's restricted in the players he's got to choose from. I sympathise with the players who are getting injured.

"But we've got to focus on our job and not get too caught up in that.

"You end up coming a cropper if you're thinking that they've got all these players injured, and it's just a matter of turning up."

Vrancken, meanwhile, hopes a vocal Tynecastle crowd can inspire his injury-hit side to victory.

"The situation we're in, we have to just stick together and fight again on Sunday," Vrancken told HeartsTV.

"It's an important run of games like we already know, and make sure that we are as fit as possible to go for the game.

"It is good that it's a Tynecastle, so we have a full stadium behind us and that has to give the energy to make it this last game before the break a good one."

• Hearts' Scottish Premiership games this season have featured a joint-high 41 goals (24 for, 17 against), while only Aberdeen's (26) have had fewer than Falkirk's (27 – 15 for, 12 against).

• Falkirk's 2-1 win over Hearts in September was their first in 10 top-flight meetings (D2 L7) since winning back-to-back matches in 2008.

• Hearts remain unbeaten in 26 home league games (W21 D5) since a 1-0 defeat by Dundee in April 2025. It's the longest home run by any side in the Premiership since Celtic's 52-game undefeated streak from February 2021 to December 2023.

• Hearts have won their past four top-flight home games against Falkirk, keeping a clean sheet in the latest three.

• Falkirk have won four consecutive league games, the longest ongoing run in the Premiership.

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Veteran defender Stephen Kingsley joined Hearts' lengthy injury list by picking up a hamstring injury against Thun.

Calvin Miller, Tomas Magnusson, Harry Milne, Christian Borchgrevink, Oisin McEntee, Ageu, Craig Halkett, Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud and Oisin McEntee remain out.

Falkirk full-backs Ryan Strain and Leon McCann both face about two months out.

But Ethan Laidlaw, Joe Gardner and Keelan Adams are back in training, while Aodhan Doherty remains sidelined.

Matthew Gillies on Friday did not know whether he would be playing against Falkirk on Sunday or for Stenhousemuir on Saturday after the 19-year-old midfielder was recalled from his loan to make his debut for injury hit Hearts against Thun on Thursday. (Daily Record, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Stuart Findlay hopes he and Hearts can go into the international break on a high after a damaging week.

Injury-depleted Hearts lost the League Cup semi-final to Edinburgh rivals Hibs last weekend, then their misery was compounded by a 3-1 Conference League loss at Thun.

Thursday's defeat left Wouter Vrancken's side, who had 10 players missing through injury, with only one point from a possible nine in the Conference League.

Hearts will be looking for their first win in three games when Falkirk visit Tynecastle on Sunday.

Defender Findlay, who scored Hearts' late consolation in Switzerland, told TNT Sports: "That's obviously a couple of tough defeats in a row for us, losing the derby, then Thursday night.

"But we've got a massive game again on Sunday and we need to make sure we rally together.

"We know it can be difficult times. And when it's difficult times, that's when we need to pull through, show our character and make sure we turn around and have a good result going into the break.

"Personally, I know I need to do better if the manager gives me another chance on Sunday. I'll make sure I do better than what I did on Thursday and all I need to take from it is to move on with the rest of the team and make sure we put things right on Sunday when we play Falkirk.

"It wasn't what we were hoping for, obviously. We had a gameplan that we obviously didn't stick to, the way that we wanted to do it.

"I thought we sort of didn't get going. Personally, there was a lot of duels at the back that I should be doing a lot better to understand.

"It was a really disappointing night. It's a night that we expected more from. So we came away very disappointed."

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We asked for your views after injury-hit Hearts lost 3-1 at Swiss side Thun in the Conference League.

Here's what some of you said:

Alan: The players looked burned out playing every three to four days and because of all the injuries are making rookie mistake that are costing us dearly. If we can survive the next game we will benefit from the international break and hopefully get some players back.

David: I've now lost count of the number of medium/long-term injuries at the club. Is this a record and is there an underlying issue other than fatigue? That being said, for experienced players to effectively gift all three goals at Thun cannot be acceptable. At least the international break may bring some respite but Falkirk on Sunday will be a tough one.

Graeme: Individual errors costing us yet again. Not much in the game until Jamie McCart's OG and then the floodgates opened again. A real concern that when things don't go to plan we seem to crumble. That said, we need to stop catastrophising every defeat; we're third in the league, qualified for Europe proper and made a cup semi. Given the amount of games the depleted squad has had to deal with, and adding a completely new style of play on top, I think we're doing okay.

Kristoffer: Hard to defend the mistakes we see week in, week out but the players are giving their all - some of them are just not good enough. We are going to need to join a seven-a-side league at this rate.

Calum: An abject result, the kind that makes you beg for the season to end. We now simply must win against a very well-drilled Falkirk side this Sunday to go into the international break on (somewhat of) a high. Some energetic academy players should be bedded in from here until January at least.

David: Yes, we are experiencing a lot of injuries, but that does not excuse the defending for both first-half goals. I fear for next month or so unless a few of our injured players come back.

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken seeks unity from his squad following Thursday's 3-1 Conference League defeat by Thun in Switzerland. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Vrancken was pleased with how Stephen Kingsley's teenage replace Matthew Gilliest performed against Thun. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken tells BBC Scotland: "Just not good enough. There are circumstances, but we expected more from ourselves. Obviously disappointed.

"Individual mistakes are always something that can happen because you are working with human beings. You have to find the energy again.

"The quality was not top today. We don't have to find excuses because the performance was not good enough. You have to adapt to the pitch.

"[Stephen Kingsley] wanted to play. This game was important and it's always a risk. It's also a risk playing players who have played six or seven games in a row with two days in between. This is the situation we are in.

"We have to cope with the situation we are in. There is nobody fit enough now [to return against Falkirk]. It will be the guys who were here tonight. There is a big chance we keep Matthew [Gillies] with us."

Hearts remain without a win in the Conference League after Swiss champions Thun took advantage of the Scottish outfit's slipshod defending in Switzerland.

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Have your say on the action.

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Ryan McGowan believes a positive result for Hearts against Thun would change "a lot" for his former team.

Wouter Vrancken's side have picked up one point from their opening two Conference League fixtures and have travelled to Switzerland without a clutch of injured players.

"European football, I if everyone was fit and had a full squad, I think there'd be a good chance of them progressing," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I just feel like the run they've been on in terms of picking up those injuries has made it difficult.

"In saying that, a result tonight changes things a lot. It allows them a real opportunity to progress."

Thun have lost their opening two fixtures in the Conference League.

And McGowan added: "A point isn't the the absolute worst in terms of trying to hang in there to get something.

"But I think if Hearts have any aspirations to try and progress, which I think they did before all these injuries, they really need to be going there and winning and putting a real sort of marker down.

"Do I see them doing that? It's a really, really difficult task. Stranger things have happened."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Malachi Fagan-Walcott admits it is a "shock to the system" to be playing for Hearts in the Conference League only two years since turning out for York City against Braintree Town in the National League.

The 24-year-old centre-half did get a taste for European football with his local club while growing up in London.

"Growing up at the Tottenham academy, I've always had the luxury of watching European competitions," he said after travelling to face Thun on Thursday.

"To play in it is like a dream come true. For me, it's one of the biggest stages in football. This is the ultimate."

Fagan-Walcott had spells with Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic while on loan from Spurs and Cardiff City respectively, but it is after his summer move from York to Tynecastle where he first experienced the scale of support in Gorgie on a European night.

"Coming out for the warm-up and seeing the crowd, you think, I was at Braintree a couple of years ago," he recalled.

"It's a reality check, but it's good. It is a shock to the system at some point."

On the field of play, Fagan-Walcott has had to come to terms with the increased quality and intensity.

"Sometimes you can afford not to track a run when I was at York, because the person who had the ball didn't have the quality to play it," he said.

"Whereas now you've just got to make sure you're switched on at all times, because that one lapse in concentration and the ball's gone and the ball's in the back of your net."

Fagan-Walcott has also had to adapt to a new tactical system, having predominantly operated as the right-sided centre-half in a back three.

"You don't have that middle centre-half as your anchor," he added. "You can't just get the ball, pass it and run on like I used to."