Hearts crash out of Betfred Cup as Dunfermline progress as group winners

HEARTS crashed out of the Betfred Cup on penalties to pile pressure on head coach Ian Cathro after a 2-2 draw against Championship outfit Dunfermline.

The Pars looked to be heading for a shock triumph when goals from Joe Cardle and Declan McManus cancelled out Don Cowie’s opener, however Isma Goncalves levelled in the closing stages.

But Dunfermline rubbed salt in the would by winning the subsequent penalty shootout 3-1 and claiming the bonus point to top Group B, prompting jeers from the home fans.

Cathro headed down the tunnel amid a barrage of abuse from a group of angry supporters who had assembled near the front of the Wheatfield Stand.

To exacerbate Cathro’s woes, Jamie Walker was left out of the Hearts starting line-up amid suggestions that persistent speculation regarding his future has affected the winger’s performances.

With Walker not in the squad, Cowie was handed an unfamiliar role on the right side of the front three – and that decision was vindicated when he latched on to a Kyle Lafferty pass and rifled a fine low drive beyond Sean Murdoch from the edge of the box.

Hearts’ advantage lasted just eight minutes, with Cardle restoring parity with a moment of magic. The winger killed a Michael Paton cross on the edge of the box, showed wonderful trickery to spin away from John Souttar and curled a shot beyond Hamilton.

The Fifers claimed took the lead after the break when Callum Smith knocked Souttar off the ball, hared into the box and slipped a pass to McManus, who kept his cool to fire past Hamilton.

Amid chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ aimed at Cathro from the Pars faithful, Murdoch produced another superb reflex save to deny Lafferty before Nat Wedderburn and Cardle both cleared efforts off the line.

Hearts finally did breach the massed ranks when Goncalves poked the ball over the line after a Malaury Martin free-kick had caused an almighty goal-mouth scramble.

But the Jambos failed to find a late winner and Jordan McGhee, Malaury Martin and Cowie all missed spot-kicks as Dunfermline won 3-1 on penalties to bank a bonus point.