Off-field woe taking toll on Hearts, says Sergio

HEARTS manager Paulo Sergio has attributed his side’s latest defeat to the off-field distractions which continue to plague the beleaguered club.

The 2-1 home loss to St Johnstone on Saturday was a fourth defeat in six games since the first-team squad first suffered delayed payment of their wages in mid -October.

The wait for November’s pay goes on, with owner Vladimir Romanov seeking to sell the club which is mired in debt.

A media ban is ongoing, and with no sign of that ending the club’s official website is their only method of communication. Sergio, who has two games remaining of a five-match touchline ban, used that channel to declare the turmoil at Tynecastle to be an on-field concern.

He told Hearts TV: “We are losing focus on our work and that is revealed in games. We are thinking during the week of other problems – everybody knows – and we’re losing our focus, our quality, our confidence, most of all in our defensive line.

“We are creating chances, that is good – we should put them in the net. But we are giving chances to our opponents without them having to do too much to deserve it.”

Liam Craig scored after three minutes and Dave MacKay converted a 78th-minute penalty as St Johnstone, who have lost just once away from Perth all season, sealed all three points.

Hearts had chances, though, with Peter Enckelman saving a Jamie Hamill penalty after 64 minutes. Mehdi Taouil’s first goal for the club four minutes from time came too late.

Hearts’ on and off-field troubles were heightened further when defender Andy Webster – no stranger to injury in his career – was forced off at half-time due to a calf injury.