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Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes reveals he picked the wrong Hearts team - and why he was nervous but is now happy
Premier Sports Cup win against Dumbarton was straightforward Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts head coach Derek McInnes admitted he picked the wrong team for Wednesday's Premier Sports Cup tie against Dumbarton - but stressed he is happy with how his team coped. In trying to give players game time before the Premiership begins, McInnes tried a 3-4-1-2 system and then changed to 4-4-2 at half-time. Midfielders Sander Kartum and Blair Spittal lined up as wing-backs at kick-off but Hearts cruised through to the knockout round with another 4-0 win, courtesy of goals from Lawrence Shankland, Michael Steinwender, Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga. A debut for new signing Sabah Kerjota came late on following his £120,000 transfer on Tuesday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts are through to the last-16 of the competition and are likely to be seeded for Sunday's draw, but must wait until all group games are finished over the weekend before that issue will be finalised. After scoring 16 goals in four games, they are feeling confident as the manager continues to assess his squad. 'I picked the wrong team,' said McInnes at full-time. 'I picked a team that was to try to get minutes and we thought that we could still be effective. I thought we were effective at times but not enough. But 2-0 up at half time, don't want to grumble too much at that, but it was clear that we needed to get to bylines more and we needed more natural width. You know, trying to kind of shoehorn people in wasn't quite fair on the lads. 'We were always going to go to a back four for the second half. it was our intention. Kerjota has only probably got about 20 minutes in him. It was always the intention to get Kyziridis on, who we're building up his minutes. So I think you've seen in the second half a wee bit more fluency, a wee bit more tempo to the play, a bit more of what we wanted us to see. 'I think when we get a wee bit more space to exploit, obviously Dumbarton sat in their shape really well and I think they deserve a lot of credit. They've got an experienced manager who knows how to organise his teams and while they didn't offer loads going forward, they always offered a counter-attacking threat. When they're in that shape, it was always a bit more difficult to find those spaces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad New Hearts signings make an impact in Premier Sports Cup 'I do think when the games open up, having Kerjota, Braga, Kyziridis, I think they will enjoy those spaces. When you look back at the introduction of some of these boys, I think that the fans have clearly taken to them, as we have. We know that they have to work really hard and a Hearts supporter will cover a multitude of sins if you show that willingness to work hard and bring intensity. 'I thought our counter-press was outstanding tonight, winning the ball back and being relentless with that side of it. So there were loads of positives. I probably knew in my mind that the team I picked first half may play out that way and, but we tried to still try and be effective. Lawrence's goal was a great ball from Stephen Kingsley. We arrived time and time again in those areas and we should have been a bit more productive with our crossing. It was a lovely header for Lawrence. 'We're just looking for a wee bit more. There were good chances for all the strikers tonight and we probably just wanted a wee bit more, but we've come through the League Cup games really professionally, with a lot of motivation. Clearly, the lads' approach has been spot on, which has allowed us to win the group and look forward to the last-16 draw.' 'Throughout pre-season all the strikers have scored goals. All the centre-halves have scored goals, bar Frankie Kent. Obviously with the level of the opponents, we were always going to dominate the games, but these games can make managers a wee bit nervous. You know you're a wee bit undercooked and not quite ready. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So to come out of it with 16 goals, three clean sheets and your strikers scoring, you have to be happy. You're also getting the minutes in the legs you need. So you're glad to have these competitive games and I think from the first day of testing when we came back from pre-season, the lads have been first-class.' Midfielders Cammy Devlin and Calem Nieuwenhof occupied the central midfield berths and McInnes was content with their input. 'I think sometimes Cammy plays that way, just sees the ball and runs after it, sometimes that's got to be tempered, but I think sometimes you need people to just go and set the tone. But I thought it came from our front players. 'I thought [James] Wilson, Shankland, Elton [Kabangu] in the first half, second half just hunting that ball down and, you know, you hear voices and tell people to go and hunt. Sometimes good teams will break that press, but there's always got to be that instinct to go and try and win the ball back in good areas of the pitch. I thought we had done that a lot, particularly the second half when Dumbarton were getting tired. It's good to see nonetheless, and hopefully that's something that we can improve on again.' READ MORE: Kyziridis ready to fight after Takis Fyssas advice
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Derek McInnes hails Hearts new boys and warns Sunderland to expect 'proper match'
Jambos ease into Premier Sports Cup last 16 Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts manager Derek McInnes hailed the impact of his new signings after a place in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup was secured with a 4-0 win over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. Second half strikes from summer recruits Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga put the seal on the victory after Lawrence Shankland and Michael Steinwender had netted with headers before the break. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kyziridis made it two goals in two appearances following his move from MFK Zemplin Michalovce while Braga now has three goals in four games since arriving from Aalesund. Hearts netted four goals in each of their group stages matches to claim maximum 12 points and progress to the next round, almost certainly as one of the seeded teams. And McInnes has been pleased with the contribution of his new attackers. Claudio Braga (second from left) celebrates with James Wilson, Adam Forrester and Blair Spittal after making it 4-0 to Hearts over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group "Both of them have made a quick start," he said. "Supporters like what they see - as do we. Both boys are desperate to do well. We've made it clear to them that it covers a multitude of sins if you work hard for supporters and the fans need to see that. It's fundamental for all the players. The games coming up will be a big step up from this, both physically and in terms of intensity. But all the new lads can be pleased with their introduction considering we were just back over a month ago." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts new host Sunderland in Craig Gordon's testimonial on Saturday before starting their William Hill Premiership campaign at home to Aberdeen on Monday, August 4. "It's clearly a step up," McInnes said looking ahead to the visit of the Black Cats. "It's a testimonial for Craig and both clubs are here to honour him. At the start and end it will feel like that for Craig, but once the ball rolls it will feel like a proper game. Scotland v England, a Premier League team coming up and thinking back as a player, you would love to pitch yourself against them. I think it will be a really good test for us." Hearts' Alexandros Kyziridis celebrates with James Wilson (L) after making it 3-0 over Dumbarton at Tynecastle. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group Shankland headed the opener in the 17th minute from Stephen Kingsley's cross and Michael Steinwender headed home from a corner seconds before the half-time whistle. Scott Tomlinson almost stunned the home support in the opening seconds of the second half when he hit the bar from a tight angle after robbing Kingsley of possession near the corner flag. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Hearts were soon back in control and Kyziridis scored his second goal in as many games as the winger jinked his way into the box before sending an angled drive just inside the far post. Braga then converted Cammy Devlin's cutback in the 72nd minute to move Hearts on to a goal difference of 11 and ensure they will be the only top-flight side to boast a perfect record in the group stage. Championship Airdrie continued their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory over Montrose to move above Alloa on goal difference in Group C. The group, which features already-eliminated Dundee, will be decided on Saturday when Alloa visit Lanarkshire in a winner-takes-all tie. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Diamonds opened the scoring in the 56th minute at Gayfield when Euan Henderson's cross found its way into the net. The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later when Lewis McGrattan knocked the ball home after Henderson was brought down as he looked set to convert the rebound from his own saved shot.
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts report and player ratings v Dumbarton: New signing debuts, injury and Premier Sports Cup seeding
Hearts coasted into the Premier Sports Cup knockout phase with four wins from four group matches after beating Dumbarton. A 4-0 result at Tynecastle Park took the Edinburgh club through after previous Group E victories against Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical and Stirling Albion. The final round of group ties take place this weekend so Hearts must wait to confirm if they have earned a seeding place for the last-16. However, 12 points from 12 and a goal difference of plus-15 means they are highly likely to be one of eight seeded sides in Sunday's draw. Their scoring form has been notable throughout this League Cup section with four goals registered against every opponent. An injury to centre-back Frankie Kent was the only negative on a balmy summer's evening in Gorgie. With midfielder Beni Baningime and right-back Christian Borchgrevink already sidelined, another fitness issue is something McInnes could have done without. Lawrence Shankland, Michael Steiwender Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga scored to complete a resounding month for Hearts under new management. There was also a debut for new Albanian winger Sabah Kerjota, who completed his move to Scotland from Italian Seie C side Sambenedettese on Tuesday. Head coach Derek McInnes has instilled an attacking mindset with goals from various areas of the team. A more stern examination of their credentials will come in the opening Premiership match against Aberdeen a week on Monday, but Hearts are certainly playing with confidence under McInnes. League Two Dumbarton arrived at their Premiership hosts knowing they were already eliminated from this tournament. As expected, Hearts dominated possession and hemmed the visitors in their own half when play commenced. They were playing a new 3-4-1-2 system with midfielders Sander Kartum and Blair Spittal as wing-backs. It took less than 17 minutes for a breakthrough when Stephen Kingsley found space for a precise deep cross which Shankland stooped to head past the Dumbarton goalkeeper Shay Kelly. Frankie Kent would have made it 2-0 but miscued his effort following a corner, allowing Kelly to save on the goal line. As home pressure continued, albeit in a fairly languid opening period, Dumbarton centre-backs Mark Durnan and Morgyn Neill found themselves repeatedly heading balls clear inside their own penalty area. The part-time side did break forward just before half-time for a 25-yard attempt by midfielder Scott Honeyman which Hearts goalkeeper Ryan Fulton held. Hearts made time for a second goal just before the interval. Kartum's corner landed near the six-yard line and Steinwender appeared to get a touch to force it over the goal line. If that should have made the locals more comfortable, the away side had other ideas when play restarted as Scott Tomlinson drifted inside from the right to shoot against the crossbar. Normal service was resumed on 52 minutes, though, when substitute Kyziridis exchanged passes with Shankland and meandered through the visiting defence to prod the third goal into the far corner of Kelly's net. McInnes had reverted to a more orthodox 4-4-2 set-up for the second half, which suited Spittal as he became a wide-left midfielder again. His exquisite reverse pass through to James Wilson 66 minutes created a clear opening for the teenager, but he lingered too long and Docherty recovered with a challenge to stifle the opportunity. Hearts' fourth goal did arrive after 72 minutes and again Kyziridis was involved. His well-timed pass allowed Cammy Devlin to cut the ball back from the touchline and give Braga a straightforward close-range finish. Kerjota entered the fray to loud applause and, although not fully fit, will have appreciated the opportunity of a Tynecastle bow. He wanted to get involved in front of a new group of fans, but the sight of Kent going off injured on 85 minutes was a concern. He appeared to tweak a groin and was replaced quickly by Stuart Findlay. Here are the Hearts player ratings from Tynecastle: 1 . GK: Ryan Fulton 6/10 One save in the first half from Honeyman, saw the ball rattle his bar from Tomlinson after the break. | SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . RCB: Michael Steinwender 8/10 A good 90 minutes for the Austrian who didn't put a foot wrong and claimed the second goal. | SNS Group Photo Sales 3 . CB: Frankie Kent 7/10 Strolled through the night in defence and was always a threat at set-pieces. | SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . LCB: Stephen Kingsley 8/10 Fine assist for the opening goal. Got forward repeatedly to angle dangerous crosses into the Dumbarton box. Needed the game time. | SNS Group Photo Sales
