Hearts’ Season Far from Finished Despite Cup Exit
Any claims that Hearts’ season has ended following their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat can be quickly dismissed by a look at the William Hill Premiership standings. While their cup journey is over and they will remain in the league’s bottom six, the pressing concern in Gorgie remains avoiding relegation.
Currently sitting seventh, Hearts are 11 points clear of last-place St Johnstone and six ahead of Dundee, who visit Tynecastle this Saturday. With five fixtures left, a win would provide a crucial cushion and almost eliminate the threat of being pulled into a relegation scrap—making this weekend’s game particularly significant.
“We’re still in a tough spot,” acknowledged Hearts defender Frankie Kent. “Every match is vital—not just to avoid danger, but also to build momentum for next season. We won’t get much of a break before we’re back into preseason and competitive fixtures again.”
Frustration among fans is understandable as a challenging campaign winds down. Saturday’s controversial semi-final loss at Hampden—featuring two Hearts red cards and a defeat in extra-time—only deepened disappointment. However, the fight shown by the players was clear.
Kent, returning from injury to play 75 minutes against Aberdeen, empathised with supporters’ criticism. “I get it. This season’s been tough. But from inside the dressing room and watching from the outside, I know the boys have given everything. Sometimes, it just hasn’t clicked. The fans have stuck with us, and it’s frustrating we couldn’t deliver for them.”
Despite a difficult season, Hearts supporters have remained loyal throughout both league and cup campaigns. The coming matches will be critical, not just to secure safety, but to reward that unwavering backing. Saturday’s loss only intensified the feeling of what might have been.
“Gutted, but also proud,” Kent reflected. “The way we played with ten, then nine men—it showed real character. It’s hard to process everything that happened—the red cards and the decisions. But we defended well and could’ve taken it to penalties.”
Kent entered at halftime alongside Craig Halkett to reinforce the backline after Michael Steinwender’s dismissal. The plan was simple: stay compact and take the game deep. “With the squad we had, it made sense. We defended the wide areas well, and Craigie made some solid saves. We were never fully opened up.”
Hearts hoped to snatch something late from a set-piece or breakaway, and Kent pointed out James Penrice came close. “We nearly got something out of it, but it’s tough to get a run going.”
Cammy Devlin was also dismissed late in the match, with both yellow cards drawing heavy protest. He and Steinwender apologised in the dressing room. “Cammy’s a passionate guy—everyone loves him for that,” said Kent. “They both said sorry, but what can you do? The decisions were harsh, especially the second yellow. If Cammy had stayed on, he might’ve blocked the cross that led to their goal. But it’s over now.”
