Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Defeat at Falkirk may have come as a surprise to some, but the Hearts hierarchy always knew there would be a few bumps in the road.

The manner of the loss, however, should act as a wake-up call to the club.

The success of recent weeks has been built on hard work and nobody is denying the players' efforts. But the performance at Falkirk was evidence that more will be required if the club are to achieve their goals this season.

Wouter Vrancken said post-match his players "didn't match the energy" of the Falkirk team and that the two goals conceded were "presents".

Hearts are not yet a good enough team to afford to be second best in energy and intensity - and they certainly should not be handing out gifts.

The team have an opportunity to respond quickly with another road trip, this time to Kilmarnock, before a lengthy international break.

That upcoming hiatus will allow Hearts an to take stock of where they are, recharge and prepare properly for a hugely busy period between October and December.

There is plenty for Hearts to look forward to, with European adventures continuing and a League Cup semi-final against rivals Hibernian.

The defeat at Falkirk will be painful, but the important thing is how Hearts respond.

We asked for your views after Hearts' four-game winning run was halted with a 2-1 defeat at Falkirk.

Here are some of your comments:

Samantha: The lack of competition for places has left us a breeding ground of incompetence. As children we are taught never to pass the ball across your box - Harry Milne is miles off the pace. If we can get a result against Killie and limp into the international break I'd call that a job well done.

Eric: We are a shambles at the back and hanging on for dear life in the middle of the park so it was only a matter of time before our luck ran out. JJ Williams has to score his chance, no two ways about it. We deserved nothing though. Falkirk were average, we were abysmal.

Jim: Difficult to be too critical of a poor Hearts performance after such a good run of results and a growing injury list to important players. But we have known about our defensive problems since the season started. Tuesday night's defensive performance was unacceptable by any measure. We will have no need of the silverware polish this season if we continue to gift goals to the opposition.

Euan: Embarrassing, dreadful, boring, mentally weak. Lack of leaders is incredible and it's only September. Not played Celtic Rangers yet and already lost two games. Worrying days ahead looking at games until Christmas with that group of players.

Jim: John McGlnyn was spot on about our weakness at the back - how many times did we get caught out? Surely if it wasn't working you have a plan B, but we clearly didn't or did we assume Falkirk would just roll over? Very poor performance, a wake-up call.

Steve: A result that was coming, against a side who had not won in their last five. It's naive to keep pushing forward and leave a very average defence exposed. Their first goal summed it up. Two central defenders holding the defensive line while Milne is way out of position upfield. If the manager doesn't address this imbalance we'll win nothing this season and struggle to finish third.

Watch the best of the action as Falkirk secure their first Scottish Premiership win of the season with a 2-1 home victory over Hearts. (Available to UK users only)

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken laments how his side "gave the goals away" in Tuesday's 2-1 Scottish Premiership defeat by Falkirk. (Record - subscription required, external)

Vrancken saw "panic" in his side at Falkirk. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Hearts' nine-game unbeaten run came to and as they lost 2-1 away to Falkirk and missed the chance to move above Rangers into second place in the Scottish Premiership.

It was Falkirk's first league win of the season and visiting head coach Wouter Vrancken suggested afterwards it was not good enough from his side, but we want to hear what you think about Hearts' display.

Read the match report.

Have your say on the game.

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken expressed his "disappointment because the performance was poor" after the 2-1 defeat away to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said: "When they [Falkirk] got the goal, it was all panic and it wasn't good enough. It is a mental thing.

"We had to match their energy and we didn't do that.

"We didn't take the responsibility when we had the ball. It was all reactive and, when you are reactive, you can't dominate the game.

"When you look at the goals, they are two presents. We didn't respond well. We didn't create enough."

Asked whether injuries to right-sided defenders and midfielders were causing problems, the Belgian added: "We don't find excuses. Let's hope it is just a small setback."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

If only Doc Brown's DeLorean was parked somewhere near Gorgie Road, I'd be tempted to fire it up and head back to the evening of Thursday, 6 August.

I'd find a few fellow Jambos, still shellshocked after that 6-1 defeat by Benfica in Lisbon, and tell them something that would have sounded utterly fanciful at the time: in just over a month, we'll be genuinely excited about this Hearts team and our head coach.

After three straight defeats to Sturm Graz (twice) and Aberdeen, then that bruising night in Portugal, the mood among the support was understandably wary at best.

It had the familiar feel of a film we had all watched before: a slow start, the familiar promise that things would click soon, and the uneasy memory of seasons like 2019-20 and 2024-25 when that moment never quite arrived.

Yet Wouter Vrancken's vision for Hearts no longer looks like wishful thinking. It feels real and there is now every chance this season could eclipse the one just gone.

Take the League Cup. Hearts are through to a mouthwatering semi-final at Hampden against Hibs. We all know the line - Hearts don't lose to Hibs at Hampden - but derby football rarely deals in guarantees.

If Vrancken's side can get through that, Aberdeen or Rangers await in the final.

Either route would come with its own storyline: revenge over the Dons, who first bloodied Vrancken's nose in Scottish football, or a chance to get one over his predecessor and win silverware within half a season. That would move any manager up the popularity charts in Gorgie at some speed.

Then there is Europe. After two continental exits, few expected Hearts to still have European nights to look forward to, yet here we are. There are some tasty ties ahead and who would have believed a year ago we might be watching Mo Salah bemoaning his inability to get the better of Harry Milne in Turkey?

It will be tough, but there is a growing belief we can qualify from a European group stage for the first time in the club's history.

Domestically, the picture is just as encouraging. Positive results in the next two league matches could have Hearts sitting second in the Premiership by the end of September.

I heard Tam Cowan suggest on Off The Ball that Hearts are title favourites. I am not ready to go that far just yet, but ask me again if Vrancken's side make it 10 unbeaten with two emphatic wins this week and I might be easier to persuade.

For now, eight games unbeaten already tells us plenty. Maybe we do not need Doc Brown's DeLorean after all - for once, Hearts supporters might be quite happy staying in the present.

Image source, SNS

Josh McPake has crowned his impressive Hearts start with a first Scotland call-up.

Tynecastle striker James Wilson is recalled by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, but there is no place for winger Calvin Miller.

Winger McPake, 25, has impressed since joining from St Johnstone, contributing two goals and five assists, while 19-year-old striker Wilson, who has two senior caps, has netted four goals in eight Hearts outings this season.

Pocognoli has named a 28-man squad and his tenure begins away to Slovenia on 26 September, the first in a run of four Nations League fixtures.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken says visiting the Falkirk Stadium, with its three stands and artificial surface, will not faze him on Tuesday because he has managed in a variety of surroundings in the lowest ranks of Belgian football.

The 47-year-old played at the top level as a midfielder with local side Sint-Truiden as well as Gent, Genk, Mechelen and Kortrijk.

"When I stopped playing football, it was about injuries," he recalled. "I had arthritis in my hips and I had to have an operation.

"I had to stop there and I did, let's say, normal jobs - I didn't want to do nothing. I worked in insurance, I worked for a sports brand as a salesman on the road and the last job I had was also in coaching - in companies who need team leaders, positions like this.

"You learn how to manage a team and it is a little I use now."

Vrancken had not planned on football management until taking part-time roles in the fourth division at Gravelo and Overpelt, while working in accountancy, then had spells in charge of Thes and Lommel before a year back in the top flight as assistant to Glen De Boeck at Kortrijk for the 2017–18 season.

"I started when a friend asked me at the lowest level in Belgium," he explained.

"They hadn't had a promotion yet in their history and we were two-times champion in a row.

"And then another team in my region came to us, a little bit higher, and we did two promotions in two years with them and I was at the edge of professional football."

Vrancken's managerial career really took off when he steered Mechelen back to the Belgian Pro League at the first attempt and won the Belgian Cup in the same season - the first club to complete such a double.

He would go on to lead Genk to a runners-up spot and Sint-Truiden to third place.

Now, after a four-game losing start, he has Hearts on a nine-game unbeaten run.

"Sometimes it goes really fast and not like you expected," Vrancken said of his growing reputation.

"It is nice that it goes because of results and not by your name, because you are an ex-pro footballer."

Heart of Midlothian midfielder Blair Spittal has undergone surgery and started rehabilitation following a leg injury sustained earlier this month against Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Full-back Christian Borchgrevink, 27, is enjoying Hearts' change in style this season. (Record - subscription required, external)

Borchgrevink feels last season, the Tynecastle side's approach was somewhat "conservative Scottish football on steroids". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Falkirk striker Joe Gardner will be out for two months after suffering a tear in his thigh.

But full-back Keelan Adams and midfielder Craig Sibbald return from respective foot and hamstring injuries for Hearts' visit in the Scottish Premiership on Tuesday.

Conor McLeod, Aidan Nesbitt and Finn Yeats remain out.

Hearts midfielder Tomas Magnusson has had a bout of sickness and will be assessed on Tuesday morning along with utility man Oisin McEntee, who has been missing through injury.

Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Craig Halkett remain out, while Ageu is set to return after the international break.

Former Scotland captain Scott Brown is backing Hearts pair Josh McPake and Calvin Miller to feature in a refreshed national team set-up under Sebastien Pocognoli.

The new head coach will name his maiden squad on Tuesday for an extended international period that includes four Nations League fixtures and starts from the end of this month.

Summer arrivals McPake, signed from St Johnstone, and Miller, who joined from Falkirk, have impressed for Hearts under Wouter Vrancken in the early stages of this season.

And Brown, who played with Miller at Celtic, is convinced both his former team-mate and McPake can make the step up to international football.

"I really like Josh McPake," the ex-midfielder said of the 24-year-old.

"I think he's had a fantastic start to the season. He has managed to step up to the Championship, to the Premiership, and show against top teams that he can do it.

"Now can he go and do that with Scotland as well? I believe that he could do it.

"Calvin Miller as well, the two Hearts lads have done really, really well."

Read more: Who could be named in new-look Scotland squad?

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has been talking to the media as he prepares his side for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership visit to Falkirk.

Here are the key points from his media conference:

• Vrancken is "confident there will be a few Hearts players" in the Scotland squad due to be announced by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli on Tuesday.

• He said that, while he and his players were looking forward to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hibernian, their focus is on the next match against Falkirk.

• Vrancken does not think Celtic's exit makes the cup competition any more open as "every team can win depending on the performance on the day".

• He thinks Falkirk's high-pressure game has deserved more points than they have gathered so far.

• Vrancken expects winger Calvin Miller, who joined Hearts from Falkirk, to receive "a warm welcome" as their Bairns fans would be "thankful for what he did there".

• Hearts will pick from the same squad as were available for Friday's cup win over Stenhousemuir. Midfielder Tomas Magnusson "was a bit sick, but we'll see tomorrow how he feels".

• Vrancken was pleased with JJ Williams' first start and that the striker signed from Rhode Island was able to "show his qualities" and "connection with the players" as he scored in the victory over Stenhousemuir.

Image source, SNS

• Only Aberdeen (49) have fired in fewer shots in the Scottish Premiership this season than Falkirk (50), while on the other hand, Hearts have faced the fewest shots of any side in the division this term (51).

• Hearts have won each of their past four league games, their second-longest win streak since the start of last season, behind only a six-match run from August to October 2025.

• Falkirk have lost each of their past four home games in the Scottish Premiership, last losing more in a row on home soil in the top flight in January 2006 (six).

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in seven of their past eight top-flight meetings with Falkirk, the exception a 3-2 win in February 2010.

• Falkirk have lost each of their past six top-flight matches against Hearts, failing to score at all in all four league meetings between the two sides last season.

Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley, 32, savours a busy fixture schedule in and around the club's Scottish League Cup semi-final, in which Hibernian will be the opponents. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken expects Rogers Mato to keep getting better after scoring his second goal of the season in Friday night's League Cup quarter-final win over Stenhousemuir.

The winger marked his second start for the Tynecastle club with a goal and a man-of-the-match performance as Hearts eased past Stenhousemuir with a 3-0 victory away from home.

The Ugandan forward joined in January but has had to bide his time under former boss Derek McInnes and made just three substitute appearances last term.

Under Vrancken, Mato has made five appearances, two of which have been from the start.

"He's really, really fast," the Hearts manager said.

"I'm also happy to see that he has his moments, he scored his goal, because Rogers is just a really good guy, and he wants to do well.

"He's really coachable, he wants to get the feedback, he wants to know in situations what he has to do when he doubts [himself].

"And he's also a guy who overthinks, who's always thinking in the game, 'should I do this', 'should I do that'. He asks me this, and this overthinking he has to get rid of; this is improving with time, and you see him progressing there.

"I'm happy to see that he feels good and that he took his moments, but not only in possession, also out of possession. In the second half, Stenhousemuir started targeting long balls to his zone, his area, but even in the aerial duels, he won those moments.

"I'm really happy for him, because the more players we can count on, the better."

Hearts fans, we asked for your views after Friday night's League Cup quarter-final win over Stenhousemuir.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John: Let's not get carried away. Stenhousemuir were poor but matched us for the first half hour. We started well against a poor Hibs team but can't afford to keep starting very slowly as we did against Stenhousemuir and Dundee. Still, comfortable and professional enough in the end.

Marc: Very professional performance and an excellent win. Stenny were a potential banana skin and have been flying so couldn't be underestimated. Excellent to see a good performance and squad rotation. JJ Williams and Rogers Mato were standout on the night. Flashes of brilliance from Sabri Guendouz too. Good to see Yan Dhanda making a positive impact to either force himself back into the picture, or put himself in the shop window. Really pleasing night. Wouter Vrancken may not be with us long at this rate though before he's headhunted for a bigger job.

Yanik: We approached the game with professionalism and showed the quarter-final the respect it deserved and got a deserved victory. Fantastic to see Stephen Kingsley back which opens up our options in defence, central midfield still looking suspect though.

Kris: In years gone by I think we would have made a meal out of games like this but the manager has infected this team with his personality and work ethic. Another Hamden trip and with one of the noisy Glasgow teams going out, we have a real chance at some early silverware.

Steve: Mato showed what he's been threatening to for a while. Pace, end product and a real energy which will see Calvin Miller looking over his shoulder. Hampden here we come, let's break this league cup hoodoo.

Chris: We never got out of first gear and with all due respect to Stenny, we didn't have to. For a part time club they did themselves proud but it's a step too far. JJ was fantastic but Mato was the star of the show, blistering pace and the final ball was superb.

Hearts eased into the League Cup semi-finals with a composed and clinical win over Championship leaders Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken tells BBC Scotland: "A really good game, mature, this is what we wanted to see today.

"Really, really mature and professional, not forcing things, because players who haven't had as many minutes made a good start, but then can start to try to force things to show themselves, but it was not forcing.

"They played within the game plan and showed energy. I am happy to see how they handled it.

"[JJ Williams] played a really good game. He has an open personality and he is fitting in and finding connection outside of the pitch already with others.

"He had a chance to show from the start, and he did the right things and tried to help his team-mates and did the right things out of possession.

"I am happy for his performance and especially happy for him that he could show those things."