Jim Jefferies seeks to plug the leaks in his all-too fragile Hearts defence

HEARTS' principal problem at Falkirk on Tuesday night was not difficult to spot. The scoreline in the Co-operative Insurance Cup match said it all: Jim Jefferies' team scored three goals, but conceded four.

• The dejection on the face of Hearts' Ruben Palazuelos after the 4-3 stoppage-time cup defeat by Falkirk says it all. Picture: Andy West/SNS

Taking other games this season into account, the Tynecastle team has not exactly become a mirror image of what it was under Csaba Laszlo, under whom Hearts enjoyed a mean defence but often managed no more than one goal in a game. But while the attacking shortcomings during the Hungarian's spell as manager have been successfully addressed, defence clearly remains a concern.

Jefferies noted again yesterday that injuries to Lee Wallace and Marius Zaliukas have had an effect on the back four, but he also pointed out that the sending-off of Craig Thomson for apparently kicking out at Carl Finnigan caused a fresh problem on Tuesday. The young full-back was said to have protested his innocence after the game, but Jefferies was having none of it.

"We have seen it on the video and I have had a word with him," the Hearts manager said. "The official was right - he never made any contact but the video shows there is intent there.

"There is nothing to appeal and it will now be dealt with internally. He has let his side down when we were 1-0 down and he is going to have to learn the hard way because he has put himself out of the team. I had him in this morning and I told him he has to learn and learn quickly. Inever saw it. The only person who saw it was the fourth official Eddie Smith."

Although reduced to ten men, Hearts fought back from 2-0 down to go 3-2 up, but then lost two further goals to go out of the competition. "Having seen the video there is no defence for the defence," Jefferies continued.

"The goals we lost were unbelievable. It was just basic stuff.

"(Falkirk's winning goal was] the first goal we've lost at a corner this year. So the one time you don't do your job, we're out the cup. It's been a big blow to lose the back four we set up at the start of the season and saw as our strongest."

Zaliukas was back in training yesterday after injury, but Jefferies had yet to learn if he would be passed fit enough to play against Motherwell tomorrow. The Lithuanian has been in contract negotiations with the club's owners, and the state of talks could also influence his availability.

"When you have got the forwards we have got, and with Stephen Elliott coming back, we have plenty of cover in a lot of the areas, but at the back we are short," the manager continued. "We've got (Ismael] Bouzid as the only natural centre-half. We've tried to bed Darren Barr in there, but his best position might be right full-back. Darren has a great attitude and commitment. He is desperate to do well but he has made some bad decisions.We are not going to lambast him, but we have to make him aware of what he is doing wrong and try to put it right."

Elliott is likely to be in Jefferies' squad for the home match against Motherwell, but Rudi Skacel is still a doubt. The Czech international has not played a competitive match since the end of May, and although he trained in pre-season with his former club Larissa, he is still lacking in sharpness and Jefferies is loath to risk him. "I'll know more tomorrow. I spoke with him on Tuesday when he came in and he just felt with all the stuff he had done his hamstrings were tight. So the last thing we want to do is put him out there and then see him out for a couple of months, a bit like Stephen Elliott."

The return of Skacel to Tynecastle should add considerably to the attendance when he does make his second debut, although Jefferies pointed out that if Hearts had won at Falkirk that would also have had a boost on the crowd. "It's funny, (Falkirk assistant coach] Alex Smith said to me the other night that had we held on to win that game 3-2 there wouldn't have been a free seat inside Tynecastle this weekend.

"The fact we'd made a decent start in the league, added to a comeback like that, would have ensured that. But it was a cup-tie, we're out. We're lying third in a tight league and the only way we can stay there is by winning matches."

And the only way they will do that is by maintaining the promising start up front, while working hard to find a manageable blend at the back.