Michael Stewart names duo Hearts missed at Sturm Graz as he sets second leg target after 'chastening' loss
It was a difficult return to the Champions League for Hearts at Sturm r
Michael Stewart reckons a Hearts duo absent from their Champions League second round qualifier versus Sturm Graz were sorely missed.
The Jambos impressed in the first 45 at Merkur Arena despite being a goal down but their brutal nine-minute spell soon after half-time brought a 4-0 defeat upon head coach Wouter Vrancken during his first game in charge. It leaves them staring at an exit into the Europa League where either St Gallen or Benfica will meet them after a tough first night of the season.
Key centre-back pairing of last term, Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay, did not play in the match. Halkett is out with a long-term Achilles injury and Findlay was an unused substitute with Jamie McCart preferred at left-sided centre-back. With a throw-in causing the opener and set-pieces proving an issue for Hearts, former midfielder Stewart wonders if Graz would have got off the mark, had last term’s pairing been in situ.
How did Hearts lose goals vs Sturm Graz?
Stewart said on Premier Sports commentary: “It's a brutal goal to lose. It's where you think about Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay, that are not on the side, they're a big miss. I just think with those guys on the team that you don't lose this goal. That is a terrible, terrible goal to lose. Jamie McCart’s backing off, and can't get the height.
“Jon Gorenc Stankovic effectively getting a free run at it. That's just not good. I mean, you know, you're away from home. It's a throw into the box, and defensively, punished. Big time. An absolutely terrible goal to lose that. I just mentioned and I'll reiterate it, the two guys that were playing centre-half most of last season, if they're on the team then I don't think you lose that goal.”
Stewart knows it will be an almost unthinkable comeback needed to get Hearts into the third round of Champions League qualifying now. That said, he still places importance on the Tynecastle return leg, as it could help ease possible scarring from a rough introduction to this term’s continental football.
Michael Stewart on Sturm Graz 4-0 Hearts
The pundit added: “With a result like this, it's the despondency that comes with it and the psychological scars, that are even more concerning. The big job that the manager's got to try and get rid of that as quickly as possible. For all the good attacking play we spoke about, in the first half, there has been next to none of it in the second half here from Hearts. You can't think of an opportunity that's been created.
“You just get the sense when they're passing up those sorts of chances in the first half that you're going to really rue missing them. Sturm Graz have grown in confidence clearly from being able to rattle those goals in the second half. A huge element of frustration for Hearts because as I've said already, they've been the architects of their own downfall, really. It's not been through great play from Sturm Graz.
“They need some hope from somewhere. At this stage you’re just looking for perhaps a good performance and perhaps a victory. It may well not get them through to the next round but they desperately need some positivity after what has been a chastening result and second half performance here in Graz.”