Source: FOOTYMAD
Kyle: Hearts need wake up call
Kevin Kyle scored twice on Tuesday but his work was undone by sloppy defending Kevin Kyle insists Hearts have to sort out their defence to avoid more "soul destroying" defeats like the one at the hands of Falkirk in their Co-operative Insurance Cup third round tie on Tuesday night. After Hearts went in at half time having lost two goals and defender Craig Thomson to a red card, the former Sunderland striker inspired a spirited second-half comeback with a penalty and then put the visitors 3-2 in front with a powerful header after Suso Santana had equalised. However, Jim Jefferies' side - missing defenders Lee Wallace and Marius Zaliukas - went to sleep again to allow Ryan Flynn to draw the First Division side level before Mark Stewart scored a dramatic injury-time winner. Kyle said: "It was just basic defending that cost us in the end. To lose a goal with the last touch of the ball is soul destroying. We worked so hard to get back into the game and then for that to happen isn't right. To go away from home is always hard but to lose four goals? No disrespect to Falkirk and the fact they're First Division but we shouldn't be losing four goals. If we lost 1-0 then fair enough, but to lose four goals to Falkirk isn't acceptable. They've played well but we gave them their goals and that's just not on. We need to start tightening things up because, although we can score goals for fun, if we can't keep them out then it won't help us. We can't seem to get a settled back four. The loss of Lee Wallace and Zaliukas doesn't help. You're putting the likes of Ruben (Palazuelos) at left-back when he's not a natural and Eggert (Jonsson) had to go to right-back and he's not a right-back. Lee Wallace has got loads of experience. I'd seen him in the Scotland team and I've played against him and thought he was good but I didn't realise how good until I joined the club. Big Marius has been injured but has been training with us so I'd imagine it's just a case of getting his fitness up and he'll come back into the team. But we need everyone there because competition for places is vital. I didn't perform at Celtic and got dropped for the game against Inverness so we've got cover everywhere except in defence."
