Critchley rues lack of composure and cutting edge as fans turn on Hearts following painful derby defeat
Share:
Hearts manager Neil Critchley bemoaned a familiar tale of woe for his team at both ends of the pitch as a painful derby defeat deepened their relegation fears. Jeers rang around Tynecastle at the end of a first home loss to Hibs since 2019 for the Gorgie side.
![[Critchley suffers along with the Hearts bench as the game slips away from the hosts]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/17/93498175-0-image-a-16_1735232846503.jpg)
Following an encouraging start to his Hearts tenure after replacing Steven Naismith in October, Critchley has now lost eight of his last 13 games in all competitions. Dwight Gayle grabbed a deserved late winner for Hibs after Kye Rowles and Rocky Bushiri had traded own goals in the first half.
![[Hibs boss Gray insisted he always knew his side would turn around their early-season woes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/17/93498183-0-image-a-17_1735232849106.jpg)
‘It’s such a familiar story for us with missing chances and giving chances away,’ said Critchley. ‘I didn’t like what I saw from us for long periods of that game. We didn’t pass the ball well enough. We didn’t keep the ball well enough. Hearts boss Critchley has now suffered defeat in eight of his last 13 games in all competitions.
![[Nectarios Triantis and Jack Iredale celebrate with the visiting fans at full-time]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/17/93498191-0-image-a-18_1735232893096.jpg)
Critchley suffers along with the Hearts bench as the game slips away from the hosts. Hibs boss Gray insisted he always knew his side would turn around their early-season woes. ‘The first goal knocked us. You can have a plan until you get punched in the nose. We got punched in the nose. That affected us.
‘When we calmed down and started to play near the end of the half and in the second half, we had control of the game. ‘We’ve got to show more composure, belief, personality if you like, to play that football within the chaos. 'We didn’t do that. When we did, the game was there for us.
