Franken's Hearts Debut Ends in Disaster with 4-0 Champions League Qualifying Defeat at Sturm Graz
Wout Franken's first match in charge of Hearts ended in a heavy blow – a 4-0 thrashing at Sturm Graz in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier, leaving their progression hopes hanging by a thread.
Hearts conceded from set-piece lapses at the start of both halves and were breached twice more before the hour mark. The visitors squandered two gilt-edged chances in the first half and showed some neat combination play, but they face a nearly insurmountable deficit ahead of Tuesday's return leg at Tynecastle Park.
Hearts are virtually certain to drop into the Europa League, where they could face Benfica or Swiss side St. Gallen, while the winners of this tie will take on Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze.
Franken walked away from a Europa League berth already secured with Sint-Truiden to take over from Derek McInnes at Hearts. However, key players like Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin followed McInnes to Rangers.
The Belgian boss handed starts to two new signings – winger Calvin Miller and centre-back Maraka Fegan-Walcott – while opting for Jamie McCart over last season's starting central defender Stuart Findlay to anchor the backline.
Hearts also changed their set-piece coach over the summer, with Liam Rose replacing Ross Grant after the latter moved to Celtic. Set-pieces had been a highlight during their title-chasing phase, but now they look vulnerable in that department.
Despite a bright start that saw Harry Milne force a save from the home goalkeeper, Hearts fell behind in the 4th minute from a throw-in – Eon Gorenc Stankovic escaped his marker and powered a header past McCart. Sturm striker Sidi Jatta headed a corner against the post, and Alexander Schwolow, who started despite an imminent move to Mainz, blocked a shot with his foot.
Hearts gradually found their rhythm. Claudio Braga forced a stop with a threatening effort, and Landry Kabore, after a fine pass from Oisin McEntee, shot straight at the keeper from 10 yards. Soon after, Alexandros Kiziridis wasted an even better chance – prodding wide after a neat Braga setup. The referee awarded the Austrians a penalty for a very harsh handball call but reversed the decision after reviewing VAR.
Sturm Graz took complete control at the start of the second half. In the 50th minute, Jaylan Mitchell powered home a close-range header from a corner. Schwolow seemed more focused on shoving an attacking player than dealing with the inswinging delivery, Kabore misjudged the flight, and Mitchell shrugged off Braga's challenge. Three minutes later, Luca Weinhandel bundled the ball into the net after multiple Hearts defenders failed to make crucial interceptions, with the ball deflecting off Milne. In the 59th minute, Emran Soglo curled a shot inside the far post while Schwolow stood rooted. Then Jurgen Heil, given plenty of time and space, turned a cut-back into the near corner past the goalkeeper.
Sturm appeared content with their four-goal cushion, while Hearts could never find a lifeline. McEntee wasted a free header, McCart headed consecutive attempts without testing the keeper, and Tom Reno skied two efforts from 22 yards.