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2008–09 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

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Heart of Midlothian
2008–09 season
ChairmanRoman Romanov
ManagerCsaba László[1]
StadiumTynecastle Stadium
Scottish Premier League3rd
Scottish CupFifth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Bruno Aguiar (7)
All: Bruno Aguiar (7)

The 2008–09 season was the 128th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian, and their 26th consecutive season in the top level of Scottish football, competing in the Scottish Premier League

Overview

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Hearts began the campaign with a new manager, Csaba László, at the helm. In Laszlo's first game in charge Hearts drew 1–1 with Northern Irish side Glentoran (losing 6–5 on penalties.) Two days later Hearts travelled to Dunfermline where they lost 1–0. On the same day Hearts set out on their 10-day pre-season tour of Germany.

League campaign

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The club began the season with a home win against Motherwell and had a good run in the early stages of the campaign, climbing as high as second in the table in late September.[2] The good start looked under threat when it was revealed that players wages had not been paid, although the problem was blamed on a "technical hitch" with wages to be paid on Friday 26 September.[3] However, in April 2009 the club was able to announce a £6 million reduction in their debt level.[4]

After a run of poor results in October, the club set off on a run of five league wins in a row starting with a 1–0 away win over St Mirren and culminating in a 2–1 home win over Rangers that left them third in the table.[5] However Hearts' strike force had only managed to score 2 goals in 19 games and was looking ineffective. After a 1–1 draw at Celtic Park, there followed a draw at home against Dundee United, a defeat at Pittodrie and a goalless draw against Hibernian.

Hearts boosted their chances of a third-place finish and qualification for the Europa League with a 2–1 win over 5th-placed Aberdeen, Christian Nade cancelled out Darren Mackie's opener on the stroke of half time before Andy Driver scored the winner in the second half.

On 28 February Hearts beat fellow 3rd place hopefuls, Dundee Utd 1–0 at Tannadice with Michael Stewart's second half strike. This moved them 5 points clear in 3rd place, following which Hearts then defeated Motherwell 2–1 at Tynecastle with a last minute goal from Ruben Palazuelos.

Hearts visited Easter Road on 14 March and lost 1–0 through Steven Fletcher's goal. Hearts then took themselves to Ibrox where they found themselves 2–0 down at half time but a spirited second half changed the course of the match with Christos Karipidis and Ruben Palazuelos both netting to make it 2–2.

Hearts then followed their success with a terrific 3–1 over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle. Hearts lost an early goal from Danny Invincible but a Calum Elliot brace and a Bruno Aguiar strike made Hearts comfortable winners, securing a top six finish, which they failed to achieve the previous season, the only time in the club's history.

After success against Kilmarnock, Hearts faced Celtic in the second last game before the split. Hearts lost a goal inside the 1st minute from Venegoor of Hessilink but equalised before half time from an outstanding freekick from Bruno Aguiar, gaining Hearts another point from the Old Firm. This left only an away game at Falkirk before the league table split. Despite a 2–0 loss to Rangers and a 1–0 loss to Hibs, Hearts beat Dundee United 3–0 to finish in third place in Csaba Lazlo's debut season. Their final game, a 0–0 draw with Celtic, ensured that the Glasgow club missed out on the title.[6]

Domestic cups

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Hearts entered the Scottish League Cup at the second round and were given a tough game by First Division side Airdrie United, being defeated on penalties after a 0–0 draw.

The club entered the Scottish Cup in the Fourth Round where they faced Edinburgh derby rivals Hibernian at Easter Road. Hearts won the game 2–0 with goals from Christian Nadé and Gary Glen to set up a Fifth Round tie with Falkirk. They were then eliminated by Falkirk following a 1–0 home defeat.

Transfers

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Lazslo's first signing came on 20 July 2008 when he signed Ugandan international, David Obua. On 11 August 2008, Mike Tullberg signed a one-year loan deal with Hearts, becoming Laszlo's second signing, but his career in Edinburgh was set back by recurring injury problems.

During the January transfer window the club lost Christophe Berra to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth around £2.5 million. Robbie Neilson was handed the captain's armband following Berra's departure.[7]

Players in

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Players out

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Results and fixtures

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Date Venue Opponents Score[11] Competition Hearts scorer(s) Match Report
14 July 2008 The Oval Glentoran 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 pen.)
Umbro Trophy Mikoliūnas Hearts Official Site
16 July 2008 East End Park Dunfermline Athletic 0–1 F Hearts Official Site[permanent dead link]
23 July 2008 Rheingau Stadion Rheingau-Auswahl 6–0 F Kšanavičius, Berra, Žaliūkas, Kingston, Stewart, Mäkelä Hearts Official Site
25 July 2008 Fritz Walter Stadion Kaiserslautern 0–1 F Hearts Official Site
29 July 2008 BRITA-Arena SV Wehen Wiesbaden 1–2 F Ivaškevičius Hearts Official Site
3 August 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Hull City 1–0 F Kšanavičius Hearts Official Site
9 August 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Motherwell 3–2 SPL Stewart, Kšanavičius, Mikoliūnas Hearts Official Site
16 August 2008 Ibrox Stadium Rangers 0–2 SPL Hearts Official Site
23 August 2008 Tynecastle Stadium St Mirren 2–1 SPL Mole, Stewart Hearts Official Site
27 August 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Airdrie United 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 pen.)
SLC Hearts Official Site
30 August 2008 New Douglas Park Hamilton 2–1 SPL Žaliūkas, Driver Hearts Official Site
13 September 2008 Falkirk Stadium Falkirk 1–2 SPL Stewart Hearts Official Site
20 September 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Inverness CT 1–0 SPL Mikoliūnas Hearts Official Site
27 September 2008 Tannadice Park Dundee United 0–3 SPL Hearts Official Site
4 October 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Kilmarnock 1–2 SPL Kingston Hearts Official Site
19 October 2008 Easter Road Hibernian 1–1 SPL Aguiar Hearts Official Site
25 October 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Aberdeen 1–1 SPL Wallace Hearts Official Site
2 November 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Celtic 0–2 SPL Hearts Official Site
8 November 2008 Love Street St Mirren 1–0 SPL Jonsson Hearts Official Site
12 November 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Hamilton 1–0 SPL Nadé Hearts Official Site
15 November 2008 Caledonian Stadium Inverness CT 1–0 SPL Aguiar Hearts Official Site
22 November 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Falkirk 2–1 SPL Aguiar, Driver Hearts Official Site
29 November 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Rangers 2–1 SPL Žaliūkas, Kingston Hearts Official Site
13 December 2008 Celtic Park Celtic 1–1 SPL Driver Hearts Official Site
20 December 2008 Tynecastle Stadium Dundee United 0–0 SPL Hearts Official Site
27 December 2008 Pittodrie Stadium Aberdeen 0–1 SPL Hearts Official Site
3 January 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Hibernian 0–0 SPL Hearts Official Site
7 January 2009 Fir Park Motherwell 0–1 SPL Hearts Official Site
11 January 2009 Easter Road Hibernian 2–0 SC Nadé, Glen Hearts Official Site
17 January 2009 Rugby Park Kilmarnock 2–0 SPL Aguiar, Karipidis Hearts Official Site
24 January 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Inverness CT 3–2 SPL Obua (2), Kingston Hearts Official Site
31 January 2009 New Douglas Park Hamilton 0–2 SPL Hearts Official Site
7 February 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Falkirk 0–1 SC Hearts Official Site
14 February 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Aberdeen 2–1 SPL Nadé, Driver Hearts Official Site
21 February 2009 Tynecastle Stadium St Mirren 1–1 SPL Jónsson Hearts Official Site
28 February 2009 Tannadice Park Dundee United 1–0 SPL Stewart Hearts Official Site
4 March 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Motherwell 2–1 SPL Driver, Palazuelos Hearts Official Site
14 March 2009 Easter Road Hibernian 0–1 SPL Hearts Official Site
21 March 2009 Ibrox Stadium Rangers 2–2 SPL Karipidis, Palazuelos Hearts Official Site
4 April 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Kilmarnock 3–1 SPL Elliot (2), Aguiar Hearts Official Site
11 April 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Celtic 1–1 SPL Aguiar Hearts Official Site
18 April 2009 Falkirk Stadium Falkirk 0–0 SPL Hearts Official Site
3 May 2009 Ibrox Stadium Rangers 0–2 SPL Hearts Official Site
7 May 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Hibernian 0–1 SPL Hearts Official Site
13 May 2009 Pittodrie Stadium Aberdeen 0–0 SPL Hearts Official Site
16 May 2009 Tynecastle Stadium Dundee United 3–0 SPL Wallace, Aguiar, Jónsson Hearts Official Site
24 May 2009 Celtic Park Celtic 0–0 SPL Hearts Official Site

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Rangers (C) 38 26 8 4 77 28 +49 86 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Celtic 38 24 10 4 80 33 +47 82 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3 Heart of Midlothian 38 16 11 11 40 37 +3 59 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round
4 Aberdeen 38 14 11 13 41 40 +1 53 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5 Dundee United 38 13 14 11 47 50 −3 53
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

Player statistics

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NOTE: League appearances only

Shirt No. Player Apps (Subs) Goals YC RC
1 England Steve Banks 1 0 0 0
2 Scotland Robbie Neilson 25 (2) 0 0 0
3 Scotland Lee Wallace 34 2 0 2
4 Scotland Christophe Berra 23 0 0 0
5 Greece Christos Karipidis 35 2 0 1
6 Spain Rubén Palazuelos 18 (6) 2 0 0
7 Lithuania Saulius Mikoliūnas 6 (7) 2 0 0
8 Portugal Bruno Aguiar 26 7 0 0
9 Denmark Mike Tullberg 2 (5) 0 0 0
10 Ghana Laryea Kingston 15 (4) 3 0 0
11 England Andrew Driver 29 5 0 0
12 Hungary János Balogh 18 (1) 0 0 1
14 France Christian Nadé 20 (16) 2 0 0
15 Finland Juho Mäkelä 0 (4) 0 0 0
16 Poland Adrian Mrowiec 6 (4) 0 0 0
17 Uganda David Obua 21 (6) 2 0 0
18 Lithuania Deividas Česnauskis 2 (13) 0 0 0
19 England Jamie Mole 8 (6) 1 0 0
20 Scotland Jason Thomson 8 (2) 0 0 0
21 Iceland Eggert Jónsson 26 (4) 3 0 1
22 Scotland Calum Elliot 8 (4) 2 0 0
23 Scotland Michael Stewart 33 (1) 4 0 1
25 Slovakia Marian Kello 13 0 0 0
26 Lithuania Marius Žaliūkas 28 2 0 3
29 Lithuania Audrius Kšanavičius 4 (5) 1 0 0
30 Scotland Jamie MacDonald 6 (1) 0 0 0
32 France Anthony Basso 0 0 0 0
39 Australia Ryan McGowan 0 0 0 0
39 Scotland David Templeton 1 (2) 0 0 0
48 Scotland Jonny Stewart 0 (1) 0 0 0
51 Scotland Gary Glen 2 (5) 0 0 0
73 Lithuania Arvydas Novikovas 0 (1) 0 0 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is glad his players are in demand". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018.
  2. ^ Hearts 1–0 Inverness CT at BBC News
  3. ^ Hearts settle staff wages problem from bbc.co.uk
  4. ^ Hearts announce reduction in debt from bbc.co.uk
  5. ^ Hearts 2–1 Falkirk from bbc.co.uk
  6. ^ Celtic 0–0 Hearts
  7. ^ Neilson is new Tynecastle skipper from bbc.co.uk
  8. ^ Hearts complete Balogh transfer
  9. ^ Berra completes Wolves transfer
  10. ^ Keeper Basso released by Hearts
  11. ^ Hearts' score is shown first.
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