No Hearts star man, Gavin Duncan's controversial penalty award, the Liam Boyce question - look back at shock Betfred Cup exit

A look back at Hearts’ exit from the Betfred Cup at the hands of Alloa Athletic.
It was a disappointing day for Hearts at Alloa. Picture: SNSIt was a disappointing day for Hearts at Alloa. Picture: SNS
It was a disappointing day for Hearts at Alloa. Picture: SNS

Star man

It would simply be wrong to choose someone as the 'star' of the Hearts team. The best player on the pitch was Alloa's centre-back Nicky Jamieson. After a clumsy challenge on Liam Boyce in the opening minutes which should probably have resulted in a penalty he kept the Northern Irishman and then Craig Wighton under wraps with relative ease after coming into the team for the injured Jon Robertson.

Peter Haring was decent in midfield and Craig Gordon made an excellent save in the second half. But a 1-0 loss to part-time Alloa Athletic, no one deserves the star man treatment.

Key moment

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In the seventh minute Olly Lee, like Moses, strode through the parting Red Sea that was the Alloa defence to run on to a brilliant pass from Boyce. But Neil Parry embodied the Egyptian archaeologists who claim the Moses/Red Sea narrative is a myth and produced an effective sliding tackle to deny the Hearts midfielder as he attempted to go around the goalkeeper.

Boyce picked up on the resultant rebound but his effort was thwarted by a smart Parry.

An early goal would have obviously changed the dynamic of the game. It showed in the league meeting between the two sides on Tuesday when Hearts took the lead early on through Michael Smith and were comfortable from then on in.

Gavin Duncan came under fire from Hearts boss Robbie Neilson for his decision to award Alloa a penalty. Picture: SNSGavin Duncan came under fire from Hearts boss Robbie Neilson for his decision to award Alloa a penalty. Picture: SNS
Gavin Duncan came under fire from Hearts boss Robbie Neilson for his decision to award Alloa a penalty. Picture: SNS

In hindsight

Should Olly Lee have shot? Should Hearts have left themselves so ragged in extra-time to Alloa to break and ultimately win a penalty? Should Andy Irving have been on sooner? All pertinent questions but all ifs, buts and maybes on what was a dismal day.

Ref watch

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Both Craig Gordon and Robbie Neilson were unhappy with Gavin Duncan's decision to award the penalty, which Alan Trouten converted, and the referee’s reluctance to speak to explain it after the game. The award was the big decision of the match and going by replays it seemed to be an innocuous incident between Jamie Walker and Robert Thomson with the latter coiling to the ground like a slinky.

You can understand Neilson and Gordon’s frustration.

Laugh of the match

The Neil Lennon 'I didn't find it funny' meme from his time at Hibs comes to mind when trying to unearth something amusing. I suppose you could have had a rueful chuckle at Peter Grant's post-match interview where he didn't miss Hearts. Not one bit.

Again, it is a big, big stretch for anyone of a Hearts persuasion to have a laugh at that.

Moment you may have missed

Manager Robbie Neilson was yellow carded moments after full-time when he approached the officials to shake hands but also question the penalty decision.

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“I got a yellow card for trying to speak to him," he said. “Some refs you can speak to, he’s obviously one you can’t. I didn’t swear at him or anything but some refs just won’t take people speaking to them

Neilson was also asked if he was going to persist with Liam Boyce at Greenock Morton last week. It was met with a blunt reply.

"He’s a top striker.”