Hearts change European squad after injury latest as Wouter Vrancken explains Aberdeen defeat

Hearts have made a change to their European squad following injury to centre-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The Englishman hurt his ankle against Sturm Graz on Tuesday and missed the opening Premiership match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. His place in the squad for the upcoming Europa League third qualifying round against Benfica has been taken by defender MJ Kamson-Kamara.

The Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken could only lament his team’s defending after losing two late goals at Aberdeen. Leading 1-0 through Oisin McEntee’s first-half strike, the visitors conceded a 90th-minute equaliser to Lewis Mayo. Two minutes later, a penalty was awarded when Hearts defender Stuart Findlay fouled Aberdeen forward Toyosi Olusanya. Findlay received a straight red card before Kevin Nisbet converted the game’s winning goal.

“When I look back at the game, it's unbelievable that we lost the game - and that we didn't win the game, actually,” said Vrancken. “The first half was too much up and down. We didn't have enough control on the ball so the quality on the ball had to be better. We pointed some things out at half-time. Second half was much better in that area. So we controlled the game more.

“We had the ball more in control so we could also manage their moments. All went well. But then at the end, you get those two goals in five minutes. You have to be clinical. We were clinical in our defensive box until then but it's not enough to be at 85 minutes. It has to be 90 and more.

“We had too much offensive impulses at that moment. Instead of taking the moments and controlling, especially the moments that we didn't have a counter-attack. We had to make these faults and avoid these free kicks. So this is also being smart. Again, at the same time, when it happens, you have to be in the box. You have to be clinical. You have to be efficient. And we were it until the 85th minute or something. It’s really disappointing.”

Fagan-Walcott’s injury was one Vrancken could do without as the Belgian seeks his first win in charge of Hearts. “He blocked the ball with a shot in the second half on Tuesday and his ankle, his foot swelled a little. He is already replaced, I think. He is not in the European squad at the moment. We replaced him already.”

The manager is not sure how long the Englishman will be missing, but fellow defender Stephen Kingsley is likely to miss several weeks with a hamstring problem. “It’s difficult to say. Those things are always difficult to say,” he added. “It's always week-by-week. Kings will be a few weeks out, that's for sure. Mal, I have to check myself with the medical department before I say something about this. It's always difficult with those injuries.”

There will likely be internal discussions now on whether Hearts need to enter the transfer market to reinforce their defence before the summer window closes. “Yeah, we have to see. We have to talk about it,” admitted Vrancken. “I think they did well today. They did actually good today, but it's a pity with the red card. I don't think it's so long in the suspension. I think one game but, again, you miss him. He was really good in the gamecoming back from his injuries. Also good in his head. We have to look during the next days.”

Vrancken appears to be getting his message across in terms of how he wants Hearts to play. However, conceding goals in quick succession has happened in all three competitive games so far. Both legs of the Sturm Graz Champions League qualifier saw the opposition score quick-fire goals and the same issue recurred at Pittodrie.

“I think it's also the way you manage it,” remarked Vrancken. “Because you get the goal [against], you want to go forward. And again, you have to manage first your organisation. Until this first goal for Aberdeen, the organisation was good. Especially second half, we had no problems there. Everything was good, close, and we could take our moments. And we could show some good things on the ball too. So everything okay until then. But again, you have to be smart in those moments.

“I think the boys did a lot of good work until now. Today you see the steps they made. But a good result gives this little extra push - especially in your head, in the mindset and stuff like this. I think today it was possible. You have to show this ‘over my dead body’ mentality in these last moments. This is also part of football. We have to do better in this because we cannot give away those games.”

Victory at Aberdeen would have imbued Hearts with confidence ahead of the midweek trip to confront Benfica in Lisbon. Instead, they are now trying to lift morale to face the Portuguese giants. “This could help if you win this game. It could help a lot to go to the next ones,” acknowledged Vrancken. “Especially when you play a European top team. But again, you have to step over the emotion again. This is in sport, and especially in football, and especially when the games come so fast. You have to be able to step over emotions and to be mature in those things. But also learn from those things because we don't want situations like this again.”

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson was relieved to begin the league campaign with victory after his team trailed for so long. He praised their character. “That wouldn't have happened last year,” said the Northern Irishman. “When I came in I thought we lacked fight and desire. Hearts are a good side who were beaten by a very good Sturm Graz team, so it's a great result for us. We had to deal with very good players like Ba-Sy and Braga and I thought we did that. It's a small step in the right direction.”