Depleted Hearts’ Conference League bruiser was almost entirely self-inflicted in a 3-1 defeat by Thun in Switzerland.
Belgium coach Wouter Vrancken was without 10 players due to various ailments and the Scottish side were dealt another blow in the 22nd minute when defender Jamie McCart went over his goal disastrously.
Thun doubled their lead in the 33rd minute through striker Brighton Labeau after poor defending, this time from captain Stephen Kingsley – who later went off with an injury – and then Furkan Dursun grabbed a third in the 56th minute before Jambos defender Stuart Findlay reduced the deficit in the 82nd minute with a header.
Hearts are left with one point from nine in the Conference League after a 1-1 home draw against Nordsjaelland and a 2-0 defeat away to Trabzonspor.
Thick smoke from a pyro interrupted play shortly after kick-off, but when play resumed after a long delay – there were nine minutes added on at the end of the first half – Hearts winger Josh McPake made a save from Niklas Steffen with a corner that lacked real power.
In the 20th minute, McPake’s effort from 25 yards after he cut in from the left had power but was beaten by the Thun keeper.
There seemed to be nothing untoward in sight, but then came a Hearts horror show.
There was no real pressure on the Jambos goal when a long ball entered the box, but with Lucien Dahler on his shoulder, a simple pass from McCart somehow eluded Hearts keeper Beau Reus and slid into the corner of the net.
Thun’s second goal was also gift-wrapped.
The home side burst clear and with pace after a Heart kick and when Nils Reichmuth crossed into the box from the right, Kingsley got a leg to clear but the ball went straight to Labeau, who slotted it into the net from 10 yards.
Dursun was booked for a forearm challenge on Findlay and probably deserved more punishment.
Flames started in the crowd and stopped the game early
The interval gave the Tynecastle side time to come back but, three minutes after the break, Reus produced a diving save from Dursun and an even better save from Reichmuth moments later.
However, the keeper was beaten once again when Dursun got a toe on a Reichmuth cross.
On the hour mark, Nico Maier broke free from the Hearts defence, but although his chip beat Reus, it darted wide of the target.
The night got worse for the shell-shocked visitors as the injured Kingsley was replaced by 19-year-old Matthew Gillies, who returned from a loan spell at Stenhousemuir.
Hearts were sporadic in their threat.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s header from Jordi Altena’s free-kick was brilliantly saved by Steffen.
In the 78th minute Jan Bamert had the ball in the net after Steffen hit the crossbar from substitute Nassim Zoukit’s free-kick but was ruled out for offside, before Findlay headed in a consolation from another Altena free-kick.
Vrancken looks for unity as Hearts look to bounce back
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken:
“We must stand together now. We know what situation we are in with all the circumstances.
“And there’s only one thing you have to do now and that’s stick together and keep working hard.
“Overall it wasn’t good enough in quality and can you blame them?
“Yes, on the one hand you can because you want to always expect the best and want the best.
“On the other hand, I’m still proud of what they did in the first games.”
