Kevin Kyle insists Hearts have to sort out their defence to avoid more "soul destroying" defeats like the one suffered at Falkirk in their Co-operative Insurance Cup third round tie on Tuesday night.
After Hearts had lost two goals and defender Craig Thomson to a red card in the first half, 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 levelled. However, Jim Jefferies' side - missing defenders Lee Wallace and Marius Zaliukas - went to sleep again to allow Ryan Flynn to draw the Irn-Bru First Division side level before Mark Stewart scored a dramatic injury-time winner.
"It was just basic defending that cost us in the end," Kyle said.
"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."
Source: PA
