Wouter Vrancken has often summed up his football philosophy as a form of “organised chaos” — high-energy, aggressive and designed to unsettle opponents.
But on a bruising night in southern Austria, there was little organisation and plenty of chaos as the Belgian’s reign at Hearts began in painful fashion.
For the Gorgie side, this was a Champions League second qualifying round opener where the risks were glaring and the rewards never arrived, with Sturm Graz taking firm control of the tie.
Unless Hearts produce a dramatic comeback at Tynecastle next Tuesday, their Champions League campaign will be over almost as soon as it began, sending them into the Europa League qualifiers — hardly a soft landing for Vrancken.
At 47, the new manager will understandably need time to embed his methods, but patience can disappear quickly in football. Unless he can quickly bring back the defensive structure and resilience that underpinned Hearts’ success under Derek McInnes last season, scrutiny will only intensify.
Vrancken faces early scrutiny after Hearts were thrashed 4-0 in Austria
Only 68 days had passed since Hearts suffered the heartbreak of missing out on the Premiership title at Celtic Park. In the anguish of that afternoon, it was almost overlooked that the club had still achieved something significant: a place in Champions League qualifying for the first time in two decades.
After a turbulent summer at Tynecastle, which brought the exit of McInnes and the departures of influential pair Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers, Vrancken chose to lean heavily on familiar faces for his first match in charge.
Only two of Hearts new signings – defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott and winger Calvin Miller – were in the starting line-up named by Vrancken.
If he was looking to establish some early stability, however, Vrancken instead suffered disruption with the cheap and early concession of Sturm Graz’s opener.
It was Hearts who seemed to have made the brighter start, Christian Borchgrevink firing a shot over after Graz keeper Daniil Khudiakov unconvincingly palmed out Harry Milne’s low cross in the opening minute.
That sign of encouragement for the travelling fans was wiped out as Hearts completely switched off at the back when Jeyland Mitchell launched a long throw into their penalty area from the left. Jamie McCart was caught on his heels as Stankovic rose to guide a simple close range header beyond Alexander Schwolow.
The expansive and pacy attacking style of play Vrancken is renowned for was certainly evident but while Hearts looked good in possession, they remained wide open at the back.
Stankovic celebrates after Sturm Graz go 1-0 up inside four minutes
Graz missed a glaring opportunity to double their lead in the 10th minute when Simon Seidl’s corner was flicked on by Stankovic before Seedy Jatta hit a post with a free header from inside the six yard box.
When Schwolow had to react smartly to keep out a deflected shot from Jacob Hodl, there was a danger of the tie running away from Hearts.
They carved out plenty of menacing opportunities of their own, however, against a Graz defence which also appeared vulnerable.
After Claudio Braga had a low shot held by Khudiakov, Hearts should have equalised in the 25th minute. Oisin McEntee’s surging run carved a path into the Graz penalty area and the Irish midfielder showed great awareness to pick out Pierre Landry Kabore with his cutback.
It was a bread and butter chance for the big striker but with only Khudiakov to beat, he steered his shot straight into the grateful arms of the Russian keeper.
Graz went straight up the other end and Fagan-Walcott spared the blushes of his central defensive partner McCart who had played Jatta onside. The Norwegian striker looked certain to score until Fagan-Walcott slid in to make a brilliant block.
New arrival Guendouz is left frustrated after failing to make an impact
Neither side were willing to resort to a cautious approach as the contest continued to ebb and flow. Hearts wasted their best chance yet to level matters in the 34th minute. Braga won the ball high up the pitch and slid it to Alexandros Kyziridis who was unmarked inside the box.
It was the definition of a sitter but the Greek winger inexplicably sidefooted his shot wide of Khudiakov’s left hand post.
There was an anxious moment for Hearts six minutes before half-time when Hungarian referee Gergo Bogar pointed to the spot after Milne had slid in to block a shot from Szymon Wlodarczyk. While the ball hit the full-back’s arm, it did so only after bouncing up off his leg and a VAR review correctly saw the decision overturned.
Hearts’ start to the second half was the stuff of nightmares as Graz ran riot. The visitors were undone by another simple set piece when Mitchell had a free back post run to head home half-time sub Otar Kiteishvili’s corner from the left in the 50th minute.
Three minutes later, it was 3-0 when teenager Luca Weinhandl’s deflected shot beat Schwolow after Hearts made a mess of several chances to clear the danger.
They were carved wide open again in the 59th minute as Jurgen Heil played a one-two with Weinhandl on the right of the box before slamming the ball home.
Vrancken made a raft of changes in the closing half hour but Tom Renaud’s shot over was the closest Hearts came to pulling a goal back and perhaps giving them a sliver of hope for the second leg.
As it is, their long-awaited return to the Champions League looks as good as over.
