SO, in the aftermath of days like this, where are you going?
Do you sit and feel sorry for yourself in the wake of a heavy defeat? Realise that your next two games are against a team who have just scored a goal more than you’ve conceded? And give yourself as much of a chance as 90 per cent of Scotland does, i.e. very little?
Or does this go down as a one-off? Do you recognise that there are times when the scoreline doesn’t give a completely accurate reflection of the game? And come back, sleeves rolled up, ready for your next fixture knowing that it’s one you’re fully capable of winning?
That’s the crossroads Dumbarton are at after losing 5-1 to Hearts. But assuming things continue the way they have gone under Ian Murray’s management, the latter should be a no-brainer.
They lost to a better side – an excellent outfit who are top of the league on merit. There is no getting away from that and neither would Murray or his players contest otherwise.
But after goals by Osman Sow, Prince Buaben and Jason Holt put Hearts well clear, the easiest option would have been to fold. Instead Sons battled and competed, and pulled a deserved goal back through Garry Fleming.
The deficit could even have been reduced to a single goal after Mitch Megginson had a shot saved. In the end, the hosts went upfield and when Callum Paterson made it 4-1, that really was goodnight.
Billy King rounded off the scoring, mirroring the 5-1 scoreline for Hearts against Hibernian in the 2012 Scottish Cup final, which the home fans taunted Murray over.
It’s not very often that any team can leave the pitch after a 5-1 victory rightly feeling they haven’t done much wrong. Sons could.
They weren’t perfect. Some of the goals were down to mistakes and cheap concessions of possession. And the ongoing issue of cutting edge only appearing in glimpses upfront was again in evidence.
But this will certainly not be the worst performance this season by a visiting side at Tynecastle – home of the major pacesetters in this season’s Championship.
And there was plenty to take into the league and cup double header at home to Rangers. Many reasons why, although they’ll be fancied by very few outside G82, G83 or G84, they can bounce back.
Hearts, from the start, showed why they’ve only dropped two points so far – in the 0-0 draw at Dumbarton in September. Sons defender Scott Taggart firstly made a great tackle to deny Sow, and then cleared King’s header off the line.
Sow also narrowly missed the target with a low drive on 21 minutes, but the goal he had threatened was on the scoresheet just five minutes later.
Paterson sent over a striker’s dream cross, which the Swede headed behind Danny Rogers from six yards.
That actually sent Sons into attack. A Colin Nish volley was blocked by a defender at close range, and then Neil Alexander turned Andy Graham’s shot wide.
But six minutes from half time the hosts were two ahead. Linton’s mistimed challenge on King resulted in a clear cut penalty.
Remarkably, similarly to events across Edinburgh seven days previously, Rogers got to the penalty only for the ball to spin behind him. This time Buaben’s shot was powerful enough to find the net.
Only a miraculous save by Rogers, from Soufian El Hassnaoui at close range, denied Hearts a third right on half time.
It meant Sons still had something resembling a chance going into the second half, and the early signs after the restart were promising as Nish forced a save from the home keeper.
Then Mark Gilhaney went down under a challenge from Adam Eckersley, but the referee showed no interest in what looked a reasonable appeal.
However, after Sam Nicholson cut into the area only for his shot to smash off the bar, Hearts extended their lead on 55 minutes as Holt, only on as a sub for Sow at half time, found the net with a low angled shot.
Still the white flag wasn’t being hoisted by Sons, for whom Jordan Kirkpatrick’s bending shot just missed the target. Shortly afterwards, King had an effort which ended the same way.
But with 18 minutes left, Fleming gave Sons some sort of lifeline, slotting the ball away from Nish’s header across goal.
Kieran MacDonald then had a shot saved, and then came Megginson’s effort from distance which was also kept out. No, it wasn’t going to happen…surely it wasn’t?
No, it wasn’t. Hearts forced a corner from the resulting break and, with seven minutes to go, Paterson headed home the set piece.
And with two minutes remaining, King cut into the area and drilled home a shot for the same score as Murray’s boyhood heroes Hibs suffered to Hearts at Hampden two years ago.
The scoreline was already tough on Sons. It nearly got ridiculous in injury time when Holt went for goal again, but was denied by Rogers.
The better side won. No-one could possibly deny it. But on another day, with a few breaks, Sons’ opportunities may have had a better outcome.
Maybe next week.
If they want to put themselves on a stage to bounce back, they’ve got it.
Hearts: Alexander; Paterson, Ozturk, Gomis, El Hassnaoui, Nicholson (Walker 76), King, Buaben (Pallardo 68), Sow (Holt 46), McGhee, Eckersley. Subs: Hamilton; McHattie, McKay, Buchanan.
Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten, Linton, Graham, Gilhaney, Agnew (MacDonald 63), Nish (Campbell 73), Megginson, Kirkpatrick (McDougall 78), Taggart, Fleming. Subs: Ewings; Mair, McLaughlin. Booked: Nish, Fleming.
Referee: John McKendrick.
Crowd: 15,522.
The Dumbarton Terrace 