18th July 2021. Hearts 0 Sunderland 2

 

Hearts have a weekend off in the League Cup group stages as each group contains five teams who play each other one. This friendly match was announced on Tuesday and again would be played with a reduced capacity of 2000 fans due to Covid restrictions. It was announced on Wednesday that tickets would be available to season ticket holders of a first come, first served basis from 13.00 that day. Thankfully I had nothing else on and I was able to log on and secure a ticket which arrived in the post on Friday. n yet another beautiful sunny day I left home just after 14.00 to walk down to Tynecastle. Arrived and entered through the Main stand turnstiles. While I did not have my season ticket seat again I was in the Main stand and only three rows away from my usual seat. 

Hearts made three changes from the midweek starting eleven against Cove Ross Stewart, Peter Haring and Jamie Walker replacing Craig Gordon, Steven Kingsley and Josh Ginnelly. This was to give the latter three a rest before the start of th SPL in two weeks team. I used to think Sunderland were a good side and knew the names of many of their players. However in recent years they have had problems on and of the field and are currently in the English League One. Star names such as Kevin Phillips, Niall Quinn and Craig Gordon, who was Britain’s most expensive keeper when he moved from Hearts to Sunderland, are now fading memories to their fans. In the current squad the only names I recognised were former Celtic player Aidan McGeady, ex-Ross County striker Ross Stewart and Northern Ireland international Will Grigg. Sunderland had a Hearts connection in the management team with both manager Lee Johnson and his assistant Jamie McAllister having had spells at Tynecastle as players. 

Hearts started well but Sunderland took the lead in thirteen mnutes. Sunderland’s Ross Stewart chased a through ball from McGeady in the penalty area. Hearts Ross Stewart dived and diverted the ball away before the Sunderland striker fell over the prone keeper. It was not a foul but the referee awarded a penalty. To a chorus of boos McGeady fired the kick past Stewart.  Hearts continued to press but were not making clear chances although Liam Boyce came close at the near post after  move down the right between Michael Smith and Jamie Walker. Gary Mackay-Steven had a good run down the left and into the penalty box but was crowded out by the defence before he could shoot. McGeady then was booked after a dive in the box following a challenge by Smith. I fail to understand why a player would look to dive in a friendly match ! Despite Hearts pressure Sunderland nearly scored again when O”Brien hit the bar with an overhead kick. However minutes before the halftime whistle McGeady scored again. Hearts lost the ball in midfield and O”Brien passed to McGeady on the left who shot home from outside the penalty area. 

Hearts brought on Aaron McEneff and Eaun Henderson at halftime. The substitutes combined to set upon early second half chance. McEneff fed the ball through to Henderson who cut it back to Finlay Pollock on the edge of the penalty box. His shot deflected of a defender over the bar for a corner to Hearts. The game was not as competitive in the second half as both sides made a number of substitutions to give players game time before the new season. Connor Smith came close for Hearts when his shot from inside the penalty area crashed of the right hand post. The loudest noise of the half was when McGeady was substituted to a chorus of boos. He took it well as he waved and applauded the fans on his way of the park. I though Leon Watson, coming on at left wingback, looked good as he was not afraid to press forward and put a couple of good crosses into the box. However more experienced players like Loic Damour and Jordan Roberts failed to make much of an impression. Due to the heat necessitating water breaks in each half and the number of substitutions in the second half the game did not finish until 16.50 with a disappointing result for Hearts.

However I walked home in the sunshine reasonably happy with having been back at Tynecastle again. I doubt if I will be at the next home game v Inverness given there is another ballot. As I was successful in the draw for a Cove ticket so I will be very lucky to get a ticket for Inverness. Hopefully by the start of the season lower the relaxation in Covid regulations will allow larger crowds back at Tynecastle.

Teams

Hearts: Stewart, M. Smith, Souttar, Haring, Halkett, Walker, Boyce, Mackay-Steven, Halliday, Cochrane, Pollock. 

Subs: McEneff, Henderson, C. Smith, Popescu, Watson, Roberts, McGill, Damour, Denholm.

Sunderland: Patterson, Winchester, Dyche, Neil, Doyle, Flanagan, McGeady, Embleton, O'Brien, Stewart, Gooch. 

Subs: Grigg, Taylor, Richardson, Evans, Diamond, Younger, Wilding, Burge.