B Team head coach Angus Beith says the group can take positives from their first half performance against Civil Service Strollers, plus a lot of learning from the second 45.
It was the proverbial game of two halves at Christie Gillies Park as Connor Dow’s first half brace had the Wee Jambos coasting at the interval, but a double from Callum Yeats ensured it finished a point apiece.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Beith said:
“In the first half, we were excellent. We showed a lot of brilliant moments on the ball. We got control and we just probably didn’t make the most of the territory we had. We spent a lot of time in their half, but we panicked a wee bit with our last pass and tried to force it a wee bit too early.
“We could have spent time with the ball and enjoyed having the ball a wee bit more, then sped it up at the right moment. So that was a wee bit frustrating but loads of good bits too. We score two really good goals, but two really good moves for the penalty and for Connor's goal. And then in the second half, the momentum just flipped.
“They went a wee bit more aggressive and very direct. When that happens in our games, we're just struggling to flip the momentum and see out those periods. That's where we need to improve as a group.”
The Wee Jambos are on a tough run at the moment, and the head coach admits this is another learning curve for the group, who for some, may be experiencing a run of games without a victory for the first time in their careers.
“You can't fault the effort in this group. I think a couple of things within that is probably the mental fitness for the whole game. The focus levels have to be there for every single moment, because one moment can cost you. And that was probably the case tonight."
“It's something we actually openly discussed in the video in the week and before the game, we mentioned that a lot of them actually went through their academy careers and haven't had a period like this, where they've lost this amount of games.
“But I think if they treat it in the right way, and what I mean by that is if they keep meeting the challenge head on, I think at the end of this period, where we're low in confidence, we're not winning, I think they'll come out as better players, better people, more resilient, as long as they keep meeting the challenge head on and keep reflecting properly on what they can do better.
“If we keep going, stick together in there, that will change. The confidence will come back and there'll be better players for it.”
Hearts B travel to face Clydebank this Saturday in a 3pm kick-off and tickets are available here.
