Hearts' Premier Sports Cup run ended with a penalty shootout loss to St Mirren after the team had won all four group matches and opened the Premiership with two victories. The side dominated for much of the cup tie, controlling the game for around 75 minutes but failing to score before penalties. The squad retains a positive mindset and is focused on sustaining the strong start to the league, prioritising maximising strengths and maintaining player and supporter positivity. Upcoming opponents Motherwell have a new manager, Jens Berthel Askou, and have shifted to a possession-based, tight-area passing style.
We're disappointed with the result - I'm not going to try and diminish the performance and the disappointment - because we set ourselves up to try and be a good cup team this season. We lost to a team who finished above us last year, on penalties. We were the better team for 75 minutes, I felt. I'm disappointed we didn't forced the issue and get the winning goal before we got to penalties.
But I am totally focused on making sure that we continue what's been a good start. We've got a lot going for us here, and it's important we maximise what that is, by keeping the positivity within the boys and the support. Whereas I don't think you're ever as good as people think you are when you're winning games, I don't think you're ever as bad when you lose games.
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