Source: Team_Talk
Kyle makes case for the defence
Kevin Kyle insists Hearts have to sort out their defence to avoid more "soul destroying" defeats like the one at Falkirk in the Co-op Cup.[LNB] 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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?[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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."[LNB]Kyle added: "We can't seem to get a settled back four. The loss of Lee Wallace and Zaliukas doesn't help.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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."[LNB]Stewart started the game on the bench only to come on for Tam McManus with four minutes gone after the former Hibernian player was injured in a challenge with Santana.[LNB]The Falkirk striker insists the win was a timely reminder of the Bairns' ambitions to get back in to the SPL after relegation last season.[LNB]He said: "We need to show that we're still good enough if we go back up to the SPL, which is our aim.[LNB]"We need to show we can compete with teams in the top flight and I think we were the better team on Tuesday night and deserved the win in the end.[LNB]"I can't remember ever being involved in a game like that. From a neutral point of view, it must have been so exciting to watch.[LNB]"We can look ahead to the quarter-final draw now and we'll take it a round at a time. I don't care who we get, I just want to progress to the semis."[LNB]
