Hearts B were defeated 4-0 by Bonnyrigg Rose at New Dundas Park on Saturday.
A brace from Joshua Laing with strikes from Alassan Jones and Kallum Higginbotham secured all three points for the Lowland League leaders in what was a disappointing afternoon for the Wee Jambos.
Angus Beith made five changes from last Friday’s 1-1 draw against Gretna.
Josh Radcliffe, Ryan Kelly, Taylor Hogarth, Jaedon Donkor and Tommy North all returned to the starting eleven.
The Rose started the match on the front foot as they looked to ask questions of the Hearts defence early on. Josh Laing forced Jack Lyon into action to make a good low stop with his strike from the edge of the box.
A few minutes later, a powerful effort from Cameron Ross was tipped over the bar by Lyon.
Up the other end, Josh Radcliffe tried his luck from distance with a strike on his right foot which was claimed by Ross Connelly in goal for the hosts.
Just after, Kallum Higginbotham looked to latch on to a ball over the top, but Lyon was quick off his line to thwart him from close range.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Lee Currie fired in the free-kick from the right and Josh Laing arrived at the back post to head it past Lyon for 1-0.
Half-time: Bonnyrigg Rose 1-0 Hearts
Allasan Jones doubled Bonnyrigg’s advantage straight after the break. The winger picked up possession at the edge of the area and hit a curled strike on his left foot into the far corner for 2-0.
Kallum Higginbotham made it 3-0 on the hour mark as he got on the end of a cross from the right from Laing to head home from close range.
Josh Laing grabbed his second of the afternoon on 69 minutes as the ball was flicked into his path by Higginbotham before Laing fired his strike into the top left corner for 4-0.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“I thought across the pitch we were just far too easy to play against. We didn't really get close enough at all, it was too easy for them to play forward. Too many times they were running off us and then in possession just weren't executing at all, like too many flicked passes, lazy passes, not protecting it the way that we should be.
“You've always got the narrative of, these games are really good for them, which they absolutely are, but you need to see progression, and for them to be really good games for us, you need to feel like learning and development is taking place, and today that was a real frustration.
“For a few games in a row, there's not been behaviour changes in the areas that I've just highlighted there, which is frustrating, and frustrating for them because they need to accelerate their learning to get to the next level.
“We all know how good the Hearts first team are, the gaps are widening there, so these boys need to be better, as simple as that.”
Beith reflected on the attacking display of his side, having not registered a shot on goal in the second half.
“Probably even in the games that we have won like recently, we've still not been enough of a threat and not had enough crosses into the box and shots on goal and sustained pressure against the opposition. So yeah, that was a frustration.
“I think It goes back to my initial point about like executing on the ball, in my eyes, I'm not saying simple passes, but passes I think that I'd expect the boys to make, particularly in attack and transition moments today, we didn't execute them and there was like flicky moments like on the ball and like just not just not quite good enough.
“So I think there was loads of potential, really good opportunities for us, we just didn't make the most of it through our basics.”
Hearts B will turn their attention to next Friday’s home clash against Clydebank who currently sit second in the Lowland League table.
“I think they're an excellent side. I think Clydebank and Bonnyrigg are probably the best teams, even though we've got a 2-2 draw away [at Clydebank].
“So Bonnyrigg will be hoping that we manage to pull something off at Ainslie Park, I'm sure. But it'll be a really tough game.
“I don't think it was a bigger test in a Lowland League game, maybe bar this one today. So hopefully we see that improvement.”
Bonnyrigg Rose: Connelly, Laing, Martynuik ©, Somerville, McGarva, Jones, Higginbotham, Ross, Currie, Fellows, Dobbie
Subs: Anderson, Dowling, Scott, Nicol, Beveridge, Devine, Bryce
Hearts: Lyon, Flockhart, Osborne ©, Radcliffe (Banks, 66’), Fraser, Hogarth (Dickov, 80’), Kelly, Robb (Mathie, 80’), Donkor, North (Dow, 66’), McMeekin (Sanders, 66’)
Subs: MacDonald, Dow, Muirhead, Banks, Sanders, Dickov, Mathie
