David G: Given time I believe Neil Critchley's attacking philosophy will come good but this means the right recruitment in strikers and players with pace up front. Our current inability in front of goal is shocking and at the other end our lapses in concentration are woeful. Shankland has to be dropped and the weight of the captaincy taken away.

Lawrence Shankland’s miserable season in front of goal continued as the Hearts striker missed a penalty during a 2-0 defeat against Cercle Brugge. The skipper squandered a chance to level the UEFA Conference League encounter in the 82nd minute when he fired the ball over the bar.

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND was Hearts’ spot kick sinner as the Jambos blew it in Bruges. A Conference League win over Cercle would have put the Jambos in prime position to reach the knockout stages.

Match report as Hearts lost 2-0 at Cercle Brugge in the Conference League; goals from Malamine Efekele and Gary Magnee sealed victory; Hearts remain on six points from four matches, with games against

Heart of Midlothian's hopes of playing in Europe after Christmas for the first time since 1989 were dented by defeat against Cercle Brugge in the Conference League. Malamine Efekele's goal - a scuffed effort that wrong-footed Craig Gordon - just before half-time put the Belgian side ahead.