HOPELESS HEARTS: We've no-one to blame but ourselves for Euro exit, admits boss Critchley
Share:
Neil Critchley admitted Hearts deserved to be out of Europe after failing to see off Moldovan outfit FC Petrocub in a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle. Needing a win to confirm European football after Christmas for the first first time since 1989, the Gorgie side fell behind to Sergiu Platica’s volley in the first half.
![[Mudrac slots the penalty beyond Craig Gordon to make it 2-2 at Tynecastle]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93336537-0-image-a-20_1734649754235.jpg)
An improved second half display saw the home team level through James Wilson then go in front through substitute Blair Spittal. But, despite having the knockout rounds in their grasp, James Penrice’s handball with seven minutes remaining allowed Victor Mudrac to level from the spot and deny the Hearts the chance to progress.
![[Manager Critchley anxiously checks his watch as time runs out on Hearts]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93336525-0-image-m-22_1734649789043.jpg)
A dejected Critchley, who learned at full-time that Petrocub finished rock bottom of the 36-team Conference League group, said: ‘It’s a disappointing night obviously. It’s on us as a group. We can’t blame anyone else. We’ve not achieved what we set out to do.
![[Platica, on right, celebrates scoring the first goal for Petrocub]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93336549-0-image-a-23_1734649851294.jpg)
‘You can reflect right across the six games and look at moments. Looking just on tonight, it’s probably followed a similar pattern to some of our games, not just in Europe but in the league, where we start games well, create chances but don’t take them.
![[James Wilson made it 1-1 on the night with this second-half effort]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93336577-0-image-a-24_1734649897062.jpg)
Skipper Shankland looks utterly dejected after his team exit Europe. Mudrac slots the penalty beyond Craig Gordon to make it 2-2 at Tynecastle. Manager Critchley anxiously checks his watch as time runs out on Hearts. ‘We conceded the first goal. Our response was good but it’s our inability to defend a cross. Those moments have been costing us at both ends.
![[Blair Spittal put Hearts in front with a header but it wasn't to be the Gorgie side's night]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93336547-0-image-a-25_1734649931309.jpg)
