HOPELESS HEARTS: We’ve no-one to blame but ourselves for Euro exit, admits boss Critchley

Neil Critchley admitted Hearts deserved to be out of Europe after failing to see off Moldovan outfit FC Petrocub in a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle.

Needing a win to confirm European football after Christmas for the first first time since 1989, the Gorgie side fell behind to Sergiu Platica’s volley in the first half.

An improved second half display saw the home team level through James Wilson then go in front through substitute Blair Spittal.

But, despite having the knockout rounds in their grasp, James Penrice’s handball with seven minutes remaining allowed Victor Mudrac to level from the spot and deny the Hearts the chance to progress.

A dejected Critchley, who learned at full-time that Petrocub finished rock bottom of the 36-team Conference League group, said: ‘It’s a disappointing night obviously. It’s on us as a group. We can’t blame anyone else. We’ve not achieved what we set out to do.

‘You can reflect right across the six games and look at moments. Looking just on tonight, it’s probably followed a similar pattern to some of our games, not just in Europe but in the league, where we start games well, create chances but don’t take them.

Mudrac slots the penalty beyond Craig Gordon to make it 2-2 at Tynecastle

Manager Critchley anxiously checks his watch as time runs out on Hearts

‘We conceded the first goal. Our response was good but it’s our inability to defend a cross. Those moments have been costing us at both ends.

‘I don’t know how many times we’ve had the ball in the penalty area, crosses and corners and free-kicks.

‘We should have scored more than the two we did. If you concede the two poor goals we have done tonight, then that’s obviously going to cost you.’

Appointed Steven Naismith’s successor, Critchley got off to a bright start in the job but has now presided over just four wins from 14 games.

The third best team in Scotland last year, Hearts are currently bottom of the Premiership with just 13 points from 17 games.

Asked if he was concerned his message isn’t getting through, he added: ‘It’s quite simple, we do have to improve and you have to keep working on that every single day.

‘It wasn’t a lack of effort tonight or intensity, but our quality and decision-making in the final third let us down.

‘We didn’t make the goalkeeper work enough, and that probably sums up some of our performances, particularly in my time here.

Platica, on right, celebrates scoring the first goal for Petrocub

James Wilson made it 1-1 on the night with this second-half effort

Blair Spittal put Hearts in front with a header but it wasn’t to be the Gorgie side’s night

‘We don’t have a lot of time between games. We don’t get a lot of time to work on it on the training pitch unfortunately. We need to stand up as a group and collectively do better.’

Responding to the anger of fans at full-time, Critchley said: ‘We are all angry and frustrated with what’s happened on the pitch.

It is a challenge but it’s not going away, it’s there. You can only respond, you have a couple of choices – our choice is to show fight, togetherness and spirit.

‘I’m still confident there’s more than enough in the dressing-room to improve our situation.’