Hearts fans express frustration as Shankland misses penalty in defeat

And they only have themselves to blame.

Cercle scored in either half through Malamine Efekele and Gary Magnee. But Hearts had chances that were not taken and a penalty blazed over the bar by Lawrence Shankland.

Hearts go to Copenhagen in December for their penultimate league phase clash.

Joel Sked looks back at another frustrating performance.

Fans make feelings clear

There was a good feeling coming into the match in Bruges. A big travelling support taking over a city and an opposition missing their best player and struggling in the Belgian top flight. Hearts didn't step up to the occasion. Yes, they created chances and could and should have taken something from the game. But it is becoming a familiar complaint. A familiar failing. And the crowd are growing frustrated. That was increasingly evident as the game went on with Kenneth Vargas and Lawrence Shankland the target of some of that frustration. Hearts could have secured passage to the knockout stage. They could have put themselves in the running for a top-eight finish. Yet, they are left with two games to get the point that will all but secure European football after Christmas.

No first-half Hearts

Under Neil Critchley, Hearts have produced a number of positive first-half performances, starting strongly, creating chances and making life difficult for their opponents. It happened against Celtic at the weekend. And before that, St Mirren, Heidenheim and Omonia Nicosia. It didn't happen against Cercle Brugge, however. It was probably the worst spell of football since Critchley took over. Both teams were guilty of giving up possession cheaply, making poor decisions and generally just being poor. There was evidence that when Hearts beat the first wave of pressure they could get at the Belgians, especially when they ran at them through Alan Forrest and Kenneth Vargas' scampering qualities. But they simply didn't do it enough. No team seemed to have control but it was more evident with Hearts. There were few sustained periods of possession. Failing to get a hold of the ball allowed Cercle to put pressure on. 

Dhanda's return

One of the most interesting selection decisions from Critchley was the presence of Yan Dhanda. Or more accurately, the lack of Blair Spittal. It was the first time the latter had not started since the end of September and the first time the former had started in nearly a month. Dhanda didn't have the impact his head coach would have wanted, or those in the away end. From early on he didn't show enough urgency to get forward when he had the ball, instead cutting back and looking for a safe option. There were a couple of opportunities where James Penrice made one of his trademark overlapping runs but he was not fed the ball in the same way he would have if Spittal was playing in front of him. Dhanda was arguably the most exciting of the summer arrivals, or certainly most hyped. He has displayed glimpses but not the prolonged consistency required to be a regular starter. Spittal came off the bench and Hearts immediately became more of a threat down the left.

Attacking frustration

Neil Critchley has spoken of the need for Hearts to get better at both ends of the pitch. That was demonstrated once more. Admittedly, one end of the pitch was more frustrating than the other. Defensively, by and large, they dealt well with the long balls of Cercle but the goal given up to Malamine Efekele can fall into the cheap category. Even before he scuffed his effort into the corner beyond Craig Gordon the ball was given back to the hosts by Kye Rowles cheaply. Up the other end of the park, however, the failings were far more noticeable. Hearts created openings, opportunities and chances in both halves. And the 3,124 away support made their feelings clear. Kenneth Vargas and Lawrence Shankland had 10 efforts between them but didn't do nearly enough. Vargas lacked that bit of composure and killer instinct. As for Shankland. There is not much left to say. That penalty, skied high over the bar after VAR had intervened with a handball said it all. As did the reaction from those behind the goal in maroon. Moments later he had another great chance, this time glancing a header wide. Something isn't right in the Hearts attack. Before full-time there were chants of 'Shankland, get to f***'. To say the fans were disgruntled is an understatement. And they are all saying the same thing, 'Why didn't Hearts sign another striker in the summer?'

The away support

Bruges was turned maroon and white on Thursday. On every corner, there was a Hearts fan. Look up and a flag would be drooped from a window or a vantage point bearing the name of a place in Scotland, from Auchtermuchty to Portobello, Kirkcaldy to North Berwick. One celebrated Clevid Dikamona. Another David Obua. There was one on how there were 99 problems but the 'Critch ain't one'. Locals and tourists alike stopped to take photos and videos of the fans singing, even more so when the drum was brought out just before 3pm local time. By 4.45pm the away end had begun filling up more than two hours before kick-off, fans taking advantage of the free buses shuttling them to the 4km from the centre to the stadium. They showed Neil Critchley with his song as he spoke to TNT and then again when he wandered over to clap them. Yet, once more the big and loud backing didn't get the result their support deserved.