Betfred Cup
Friday 12th July 2019
Four days into my travels for the 2019/20 season and I’m already sick of the weather - how on earth will I cope when it gets to the cold winter months?
It p*ssed it down at Windsor Park on Wednesday when Linfield were comfortably brushed aside by Rosenborg and the rain was once again flowing at full force at Tynecastle this evening as the Betfred Cup got underway with Hearts taking on Dundee United.
The Jam Tarts didn’t play anywhere near as well as I was expecting given they were at home against ‘lesser’ opponents and expected to win.
Whether it was due to the weather, early season rustiness or the negative tactics of Craig Levein, who knows, but they need a kick up the backside. Despite seeing more of the ball they didn’t really test the visiting goalkeeper anywhere near as much as they should have done.
Uche Ikpeazu, the big boy frontman, is a handful and certainly problematic for defenders who with the greatest respect don’t have huge ability. Quality and clinical, Ikpeazu isn’t though - and his individual display probably summed up the way in which Hearts sluggishly limped over the line and clinched the bonus point on penalties after scores were level in normal time.
Dundee United, likewise, were a strange animal and after going ahead on the counter-attack through Lawrence Shankland’s stooping header early on, they seemed content to sit back and soak up Hearts’ possession.
Nevertheless, it was strange that despite taking this approach they rarely left a man on either post when dealing with set-plays. It nearly proved costly late on when Dario Zanatta flashed a header just wide - an inch the other side of the target and it’d have been a definite goal.
United may be red hot favourites to win the Scottish Championship and if Shankland can get anywhere close to replicating his goalscoring exploits at Ayr United, then they’ll have a bloody good chance of success.
However, a side capable of hitting a cows arse with a banjo would have made light work of their inexcusable holes at the back in set-piece scenarios. It’s pre-season, it’s easy to fix and it should be fixed. If not, maybe the title will end up elsewhere?
The torrential rain ceased in time for the shoot-out where I’m sure the match referee wasn’t quite aware that Hearts’ keeper was continuously breaking the new IFAB rule whereby goalkeepers aren’t supposed to shake the crossbar in an attempt to distract an opponent.
It made little difference as Hearts’ penalties were all extremely well-taken and, after all, it’s only the Betfred Cup and not many folk will be bothered about it.
I’ve no doubt though that some referee will be aware of the latest rule changes and there will be at least one game in the coming weeks that ends with a few penalties being retaken in a shoot-out.
Next up for my travels is a trip to Firhill tomorrow to see Partick Thistle versus Airdrieonians - and also the scariest mascot in the world!
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