2007–08 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was the 111th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian, and their 25th consecutive season in the top level of Scottish football, competing in the Scottish Premier League. Hearts will also compete in the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

Heart of Midlothian
2007–08 season
ChairmanLithuania Roman Romanov
ManagerRussia Anatoliy Korobochka
Scotland Stephen Frail (from 29 January 2010)
StadiumTynecastle Stadium
Scottish Premier League8th
Scottish CupRound 4 Replay
League CupSemi-final
Top goalscorerLeague:
Lithuania Andrius Velicka (11)
All:
Lithuania Andrius Velicka (14)
Highest home attendance17,131 v Hibs SPL 19 January 2008
Lowest home attendance10,500 v Dunfermline League Cup 25 September 2007

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
6 Hibernian 38 14 10 14 49 45 +4 52 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[lower-alpha 2]
7 Falkirk 38 13 10 15 45 49 −4 49
8 Heart of Midlothian 38 13 9 16 47 55 −8 48
9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 38 13 4 21 51 62 −11 43
10 St Mirren 38 10 11 17 26 54 −28 41
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
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.
  2. Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup as the highest ranked club to apply for a place in the competition.

Matches

Pre season

For the second consecutive pre-season Hearts visited Austria, although on this occasion the side also played four tour matches in Germany. Only one pre-season match was played in Edinburgh, a "glamour friendly" against FC Barcelona at Murrayfield Stadium, which attracted Hearts' largest ever attendance for a "home" match.

30 June 2007 Friendly FC Tavriya 2–1 Hearts
Zborovsky 38' (57), pen.' Karipidis 40' Attendance: 200
7 July 2007 Friendly Austria Wien 1–2 Hearts FRANZ HORR STADION
Metz 64' Schiemer 18' (og.)
Troyansky 55' (og.)		 Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Fritz Stuchlik
13 July 2007 Friendly BV Cloppenburg 2–1 Hearts Stadion an der Friesoyther Strasse
Breiremeiter 16'
Balke 75'		 Kostadinov 85' Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Jochen Zdebel
14 July 2007 Friendly Rot-Weiss Essen 1–1 Hearts Georg-Melches-Stadion
Klinger 51' Pospisil 44' Attendance: 2,800
Referee: Guido Winkmann
20 July 2007 Friendly Heracles Almelo 1–5 Hearts Coesfeld
Marnix Smit 63' Ivascevicius 6'
Makela 10' (22)
Stewart 52'
Jonsson 90' (pen.)		 Attendance: 200
Referee: Detlef Scheppe
21 July 2007 Friendly Moroka Swallows F.C. 1–0 Hearts
Tsutsulupa 34' Attendance: 500
24 July 2007 Friendly Hearts 1–3 Barcelona Murrayfield Stadium
Makela 24' Ronaldinho 22' (pen.), 40'
Santos 50'		 Attendance: 57,857
Referee: Dougie McDonald

Scottish Premier League
Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Premier League
6 August 2007 SPL Hearts 0–1 Hibs Tynecastle
Kerr 2' Attendance: 16,436
Referee: Stuart Dougal
12 August 2007 SPL Aberdeen 1–1 Hearts Pittodrie Stadium
Nicholson 19' BBC SPORT Stewart 45' Attendance: 13,134
Referee: Brines
18 August 2007 SPL Hearts 1–1 Gretna Tynecastle
Driver 73' Barr 80' Attendance: 16,407
Referee: Dougie McDonald
25 August 2007 SPL Celtic 5–0 Hearts Celtic Park
Berra 9' (O.g.)
Donati 22'
Brown 61'
Hesselink 63' (pen.)
Nakamura 79'		 Attendance: 57,300
Referee: Brines
3 September 2007 SPL Motherwell 0–2 Hearts Fir Park
Kingston 24'
Velicka 92'		 Attendance: 5,081
Referee: Charlie Richmond
15 September 2007 SPL Hearts 4–2 Rangers Tynecastle
Driver 13'
Tall 27'
Stewart 66' (pen.)
Ivaskevicius 70'		 Cousin 48' (pen.)
Beasley 75'		 Attendance: 15,948
Referee: Mike McCurry
22 September 2007 SPL Inverness 2–1 Hearts Caledonian Stadium
Wyness 64'
Brewster 92'		 Black 34' (o.g.) Attendance: 4,918
Referee: Mike Tumilty
30 September 2007 SPL St Mirren 1–3 Hearts Love Street
Driver 78' Driver 40'
Stewart 56' (pen.)
Velicka 82'		 Attendance: 4,233
Referee: John Underhill
6 October 2007 SPL Hearts 4–2 Falkirk Tynecastle Stadium
Ksanavicius 5'
Zaliukas 27'
Velicka 58'
Nade 68'		 Barrett 87'
Moutinho 89'		 Attendance: 15,855
Referee: Stuart Dougal
20 October 2007 SPL Hearts 1–3 Dundee United Tynecastle Stadium
Kingston 92' Robertson 14' (28)
Robson 89' (pen.)		 Attendance: 16,436
Referee: Craig Thomson
27 October 2007 SPL Kilmarnock 3–1 Hearts Rugby Park
Wales 52'
Nish 72'
Gibson 77'		 Tall 92' Attendance: 6,373
Referee: Willie Collum
4 November 2007 SPL Hibs 1–1 Hearts Easter Road
Berra 18' (Og.) Nade 46' Attendance: 17,015
Referee: Charlie Richmond
11 November 2007 SPL Hearts 4–1 Aberdeen Tynecastle Stadium
Driver 3'
Velicka 13'
Tall 57'
Nade 62'		 Visscher 38' Attendance: 17,122
Referee: Iain Brines
24 November 2007 SPL Gretna 1–1 Hearts Raydale Park
kingston 49' (o.g.) kingston 27' Attendance: 1,544
Referee: Mike Tumilty
1 December 2007 SPL Hearts 1–1 Celtic Tynecastle Stadium
Velicka 91' (pen.) Mcdonald 73' Attendance: 16,454
Referee: Kenny Clark
8 December 2007 SPL Hearts 1–2 Motherwell Tynecastle Stadium
Driver 12' Porter 53'
Zaliukas 67' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 16,633
Referee: Craig Thomson
15 December 2007 SPL Rangers 2–1 Hearts Ibrox
Mcculloch 18', 87' Velicka 56' Attendance: 48,392
Referee: Dougie McDonald
22 December 2007 SPL Hearts 2–3 Inverness Tynecastle Stadium
Berra 62'
Velicka 90' (pen.)		 Duncan 22'
Rankin 53' (pen.)
Bayne 93'		 Attendance: 16,202
Referee: Willie Collum
26 December 2007 SPL Hearts 0–1 St Mirren Tynecastle Stadium
Mcginn 17' Attendance: 16,476
Referee: Iain Brines
29 December 2007 SPL Falkirk 2–1 Hearts Falkirk Stadium
Finnigan 77'
Higdon 81'		 Palazuelos 28' Attendance: 6,614
Referee: Kenny Clark
2 January 2008 SPL Dundee United 4–1 Hearts Tannadice
Robson 22', 70' (pen.), 87'
Hunt 84'		 Berra 38' Attendance: 7,507
Referee: Alan Freeland
5 January 2008 SPL Hearts 1–1 Kilmarnock Tynecastle Stadium
Velicka 63' Giacomo 45' Attendance: 14,346
Referee: John Underhill
19 January 2008 SPL Hearts 1–0 Hibs Tynecastle Stadium
Velicka 20' Attendance: 17,131
Referee: Kenny Clark
26 January 2008 SPL Aberdeen 0–1 Hearts Pittodrie
Nade 55' Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Willie Collum
9 February 2008 SPL Hearts 2–0 Gretna Tynecastle Stadium
Velicka 4', 41' (pen.) Attendance: 16,139
Referee: Charlie Richmond
16 February 2008 SPL Celtic 3–0 Hearts Celtic Park
Hesselink 14'
Mcdonald 51'
Hinkel 76'		 Attendance: 56,738
Referee: Dougie McDonald
23 February 2008 SPL Motherwell 0–1 Hearts Fir Park
Craigan 12' (o.g.) Attendance: 5,925
Referee: Craig Thomson
27 February 2008 SPL Hearts 0–4 Rangers Tynecastle Stadium
Darchecille 25', 44'
Novo 53', 70'		 Attendance: 16,173
Referee: Stuart Dougal
1 March 2008 SPL Inverness 0–3 Hearts Caledonian Stadium
Karipidis 22'
Elliot 33' (47)		 Attendance: 4,489
Referee: Alan Freeland
15 March 2008 SPL St Mirren 1–1 Hearts Love Street
Hamilton 59' Mikoliunas 87' Attendance: 4,557
Referee: Willie Collum
22 March 2008 SPL Hearts 0–0 Falkirk Tynecastle Stadium
Attendance: 16,682
Referee: Charlie Richmond
29 March 2008 SPL Hearts 1–0 Dundee United Tynecastle Stadium
Kingston 27' Attendance: 16,871
Referee: Eddie Smith
5 April 2008 SPL Kilmarnock 0–0 Hearts Rugby Park
Attendance: 5,901
Referee: Craig Thomson
19 April 2008 SPL Hearts 3–2 St Mirren Tynecastle Stadium
Johnson 28'
Glen 42'
Kingston 81'		 McCay 20'
Mason 78'		 Attendance: 15,259
Referee: Mike McCurry
26 April 2008 SPL Hearts 1–0 Inverness Tynecastle Stadium
Glen 80' Attendance: 15,423
Referee: Dougie McDonald
5 May 2008 SPL Falkirk 2–1 Hearts Falkirk Stadium
Scobbie 45'
Finnigan 52'		 Cesnauskis 78' Attendance: 4,638
Referee: Craig Thomson
10 May 2008 SPL Hearts 0–2 Kilmarnock Tynecastle Stadium
Murray 74'
Giacomo 83'		 Attendance: 10,512
Referee: Mike Tumilty
13 May 2008 SPL Gretna 1–0 Hearts Raydale Park
Skelton 93' Attendance: 1,090
Referee: John Underhill

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Cup
12 January 2008 Scottish Cup round 4 Hearts 2–2 Motherwell Tynecastle
Česnauskis 10'
Velička 52'		 BBC Sport Porter 64' (78) Attendance: 13,651
Referee: Stuart Dougal
22 January 2008 Scottish Cup round 4 Replay Motherwell 1–0 Hearts Fir Park
McCormack 23' (pen.) Attendance: 8,300
Referee: Stuart Dougal

Scottish League Cup
Main article: Scottish League Cup 2007–08
28 August 2007 League Cup round 2 Stirling 0–2 Hearts Forthbank Stadium
BBC SPORT Laurie Ellis 39' (og.)
Kingston 53'		 Attendance: 2,059
Referee: J Underhill
25 September 2007 League Cup round 3 Hearts 4–1 Dunfermline Tynecastle Stadium
Nade 34' (pen.)
Berra 97'
Elliot 100' (102)		 BBC SPORT Simmons 84' Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Brian Winter
31 October 2007 League Cup QF Celtic 0–2 Hearts Celtic Park
BBC SPORT Velička 77' (86) Attendance: 21,492
Referee: Kenny Clark
30 January 2008 League Cup SF Rangers 2–0 Hearts Hampden Park
BBC SPORT Ferguson 50'
Darcheville 69'		 Attendance: 31,989
Referee: Stuart Dougal

Transfers & loans

Several Lithuanian players left the club during the close-season, while two more Audrius Ksanavičius and Ričardas Beniušis arrived on loan from FBK Kaunas. Other summer signings included Rubén Palazuelos from Gimnástica de Torrelavega and Michael Stewart, who returned to the club after two seasons with rivals Hibernian. Scottish international goalkeeper Craig Gordon moved to Sunderland for £9 million in early August. This fee meant that Gordon was the most expensive Hearts and Scottish player ever, and the most expensive goalkeeper in British football history.

Managers

Just prior to the season's commencement Anatoly Korobochka and Stephen Frail were confirmed as the club's permanent coaching team.[1]

After several other discouraging results, the Scottish media began to scrutinise why the team was not matching supporters expectations, with one particular area of interest being the coaching structure. As neither Korobochka or Bulgarian assistant coach Angel Chervenkov spoke fluent English, a translator was required to aid management and team communication, a situation Frail admitted was "frustrating" and "not ideal" after a 1–1 draw with Gretna.[2]

Stephen Frail was appointed manager on 31 December following a difficult start to the season, although it was not made clear at the time that Frail would be manager until the end of the season.

On 22 May 2008 reports came out that caretaker manager Stephen Frail was on his way out of Tynecastle as he was not part of the new managerial structure at Hearts.

Season

Hearts began the season in a disappointing manner being defeated 1 -0 in the Edinburgh Derby with Hibernian.

On 31 December 2007, Romanov announced that, following five successive defeats which saw the club fall to 10th (third bottom) place in the league, the club would be looking to appoint a 'British-style' manager who would have complete control over team affairs.[3] Since then, Stephen Frail has been the caretaker manager, although it was not made clear at the time that Frail would be manager until the end of the season.

Hearts were defeated 1–0 in the 4th round replay of the Scottish Cup by Motherwell after a 2–2 draw on 21 January 2008. Rangers defeated them 2–0 in the semi-final of the CIS Cup on 30 January at Hampden Park. Hearts then sold their top scorer, Andrius Velička, to Norwegian side Viking Stavanger on 26 February 2008. A 0–0 draw with Kilmarnock on 5 April 2008 meant that Hearts failed to make the "Top Six" of the SPL, for the first time since the split league format was introduced in 2001.

See also

References
  1. "Korobochka and Frail are Hearts coaching duo". Edinburgh Evening News. 30 July 2007.
  2. "Frail slams communication issues". BBC Sport. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  3. "Hearts launch formal search for traditional manager". The Scotsman. 18 August 2007.
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