Latest news with #ClaudioBraga
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Braga 'couldn't be happier' at Hearts and thriving under delighted McInnes
Hearts' summer signing Claudio Braga "couldn't be any happier" at Tynecastle, says manager Derek McInnes, but he's not a big fan of his 25-year-old Portuguese forward joined from Norwegian club Aalesunds in June and has scored three League Cup goals in four appearances. He then headed in against Premier League side Sunderland in Craig Gordon's testimonial on Saturday afternoon in front of a home support who will already be anticipating big things from him this season."He's a boy who's so willing to work, he's desperate to please," said McInnes."He's also got the quality to go on the back of that."But with that quality, there's a real honesty. He's desperate to do well in a Hearts shirt. "He's living his best life since he signed here. He couldn't be any happier, and I think that plays out on the pitch, to be honest."He's really embraced us so quickly. The fans will really take to him if he keeps scoring goals, first and foremost. But even aside from his goals, his work-rate and his link-up play has been very good."Braga has been running to the corner flag and emulating his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo's famous "Siu" celebration after his strikes. Something McInnes isn't a big fan of, and revealed his teammates have already started dishing out fines for it."Truthfully, no," McInnes said smiling, when asked if he's a fan of the celebration."No, but it's a bit of fun, isn't it? And the kids, the support will like it, and the supporters will anticipate that now."I think every time he does it, he gets fined by the boys, but hopefully we can hear it a lot more."
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts 3-0 Sunderland: match report & player ratings as clubs honour Craig Gordon
Hearts will head into the new Scottish Premiership season on the back of a convincing win over Premier League Sunderland as the men in maroon ran out 3-0 winners. The day was all about Craig Gordon though as both clubs honoured his service. Unfortunately, the 42-year old was only able to take his place in the starting XI for ten seconds before being replaced by Zander Clark. Hearts opened the scoring after ten minutes with a superb cross from Osin McEntee which was headed past Sunderland stopper Simon Moore in front of the visiting fans by Claudio Braga, bringing his total to four goals for the Jambos since joining this summer. A second change for the hosts came 20 minutes in when Calem Nieuwenhof picked up a knock and was taken off with Blair Spittal his replacement. The Australian's reaction when coming off suggested the move may have been precautionary more than anything especially with his injury history. Hearts had a big opportunity to go 2-0 up on 35 minutes when the ball came to Braga at the back post but the strier, in acres of space, couldn't get it under control and his first touch took it away from him and into the visiting keeper's arms. The first half had very much been played at preseason tempo and neither keeper was given anything other than routine attempts from long range to deal with other than the goal. That being said, Hearts were going toe-to-toe with an English Premier League side and were the better team in the first half. Hearts made two more changes at the break with James Wilson and Michael Steinwender replacing Claudio Braga and Frankie Kent. The hosts came out all guns blazing in the early stage and peppered the Sunderland box with crosses and through balls with Lawrence Shankland eventually flashing an angled shot across the face of goal. Sunderland then had their best chance of the match with a free kick from around 25 yards out. Jenson Seelt was the player who stepped up and got the ball up and over the wall but Clark watched it all the way past the wrong side of the post. The game had become a bit more balanced but Hearts still looked far more likely to get another goal than the Premier League side and so they did when the ball fell to Lawrence Shankland at the edge of the box and the skipper drove it into the far bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy. A superb finish leaving Moore with no chance. Sunderland rang the changes on 70 minutes with nine substitutions all at once while Hearts had opted for a more gradual approach in emptying their bench. Alexandros Kyziridis had replaced Adam Forrester moments before with the young full back having put a decent shift in. Derek McInnes responded to the raft of changes with three of his own as Elton Kabangu, Stephen Kingsley and Alan Forrest replaced Shankland, Spittal and Harry Milne. Forrest almost made an immediate impact after a super run and turn by Kyziridis picked him out at the back post but his shot was deflected behind for a corner which Oisin McEntee got on the end of but drove wide. The game was dying down as the final whistle approached but Hearts managed to put the cherry on top of an excellent pre-season performance when Kyziridis pounced on an error at the back to slot home the Jambos' third. 1 . Craig Gordon - 10 Ten out of ten not for the ten seconds of action the man of the moment was on the pitch on his special day but for a stellar career which is hopefully far from over. | SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . Adam Forrester - 7 Got up and down the right wing well in attack, posing a threat, and dealt with Sunderland's pacy attackers when the came into his channel | SNS Group Photo Sales 3 . Harry Milne - 7 Equally solid on the left side where Sunderland were attacking more often but dealt with their threat well when called into defensive action. | SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . Frankie Kent - 7 Solid defensive performance along with the rest of the back three, stood up against Sunderland's attacking threat well. Subbed off at HT. | SNS Group Photo Sales
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Who was 'the surprise package' in Hearts' win against Dumbarton?
We asked for your views following Hearts' fourth win in the Premier Sports Cup as they secured progression to the second what some of you said: GB: Why didn't we get Derek McInnes years ago? Sixteen goals already, what a start to a Next game against Sunderland will tell us much more than all these one-sided contests. I think we've got an age-old problem continuing at Hearts where we seem to prioritise quantity over quality. I don't think we have enough of the latter and Hearts fans are kidding themselves if they think Best display yet in a game where we showed intensity throughout. Not the finished group yet but definite signs that the basis of a coherent successful group is coming together. Another plus is four competitive games now in the players which should help when the league matches start with Aberdeen on 4 Another good performance without really getting into top gear to round off a successful group Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis look like exciting signings. Stuart Findlay has looked solid while Cammy Devlin and James Wilson have both done well. Looking forward to the start of the league New signings look great but we haven't faced a team yet that will put us under pressure. We won't really know how good this squad is until we play league games. The style of play that McInnes has introduced is more direct and more exciting to So many options in the final third and we await more! If you want a game for Hearts you will have to be on it. So much better than previous Lawrence Shankland offers more playing as a number nine up front. Last season he was played deeper but back up front he's back to his Huge spells of dominance throughout the game and performed well across all four matches as expected, it's good to build towards the league Another third-gear win for Hearts. The new signings are technically strong players and their direct play is easy on the eye. But the surprise package was Cammy Devlin, who's controlled performance and measured passing was in total contrast to his Tasmanian devil-type ankle-biting displays of previous seasons. Picking a first choice team from this squad will be no easy task for McInnes.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hearts avoid 'crisis & soul-searching' in League Cup
Derek McInnes was pleased Hearts managed to avoid a "crisis" and safely ensure their passage into the second round of the Premier Sports finished up their group campaign with a win against Dumbarton to preserve their 100% record and netted four goals for the fourth game Braga made it three goals in three games, while fellow summer signing Alexandros Kyziridis made it two from Shankland had headed the hosts in front, with Michael Steinwender nodding home in first-half stoppage time."It kind of had that friendly feel about it," McInnes told club media. "I think it's been such a hot night, I've made nine changes, so I'm a wee bit disappointed that we didn't do quite a lot of what we wanted to do."But I think the team picked was probably the wrong team, in the sense that we needed at least one winger to be playing in that first half, but we were trying to manage everybody's minutes, trying to give everybody a bit of encouragement. "That said, I thought we had some good moments. I thought we arrived, we put ourselves in a position where we could have done that a wee bit more. We had three strikers on the pitch, and each of them had chances to score throughout."So, I think all in all, 2-0, getting into half-time, the game was quite comfortable in a sense, but I thought we were far better when we got our wingers on. "We started to play with a wee bit more fluency and we could have added to the four goals. "But, four goals is good night's work, it's been a pattern in this group and the intention was to win the group and come through with that seed, and that's what we've done."We all know how important it is to win these games, because if you don't then there's a crisis there and you start soul-searching. "So, the players deserve a lot of credit that they've been professional enough and the approach has been spot-on."
