2008–09 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season


The 2008–09 season is the 112th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian.

Overview

Hearts began the campaign with a new manager, Csaba László, at the helm. In Laszlo's first game in charge Hearts drew 1–1 with Northern Irish side Glentoran Two days later Hearts travelled to Dunfermline where they lost 1–0. On the same day Hearts set out on their 10-day pre-season tour of Germany.

League campaign

The club began the season with a home win against Motherwell and had a good run in the early stages of the campaign, climbing as high as second in the table in late September. The good start looked under threat when it was revealed that players wages had not been paid, although the problem was blamed on a "technical hitch" with wages to be paid on Friday 26 September. However, in April 2009 the club was able to announce a £6 million reduction in their debt level.
After a run of poor results in October, the club set off on a run of five league wins in a row starting with a 1–0 away win over St Mirren and culminating in a 2–1 home win over Rangers that left them third in the table. However Hearts' strike force had only managed to score 2 goals in 19 games and was looking ineffective. After a 1–1 draw at Celtic Park, there followed a draw at home against Dundee United, a defeat at Pittodrie and a goalless draw against Hibernian.
Hearts boosted their chances of a third-place finish and qualification for the Europa League with a 2–1 win over 5th-placed Aberdeen, Christian Nade cancelled out Darren Mackie's opener on the stroke of half time before Andy Driver scored the winner in the second half.
On 28 February Hearts beat fellow 3rd place hopefuls, Dundee Utd 1–0 at Tannadice with Michael Stewart's second half strike. This moved them 5 points clear in 3rd place, following which Hearts then defeated Motherwell 2–1 at Tynecastle with a last minute goal from Ruben Palazuelos.
Hearts visited Easter Road on 14 March and lost 1–0 through Steven Fletcher's goal. Hearts then took themselves to Ibrox where they found themselves 2–0 down at half time but a spirited second half changed the course of the match with Christos Karipidis and Ruben Palazuelos both netting to make it 2–2.
Hearts then followed their success with a terrific 3–1 over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle. Hearts lost an early goal from Danny Invincible but a Calum Elliot brace and a Bruno Aguiar strike made Hearts comfortable winners, securing a top six finish, which they failed to achieve the previous season, the only time in the club's history.
After success against Kilmarnock, Hearts faced Celtic in the second last game before the split. Hearts lost a goal inside the 1st minute from Venegoor of Hessilink but equalised before half time from an outstanding freekick from Bruno Aguiar, gaining Hearts another point from the Old Firm. This left only an away game at Falkirk before the league table split. Despite a 2–0 loss to Rangers and a 1–0 loss to Hibs, Hearts beat Dundee United 3–0 to finish in third place in Csaba Lazlo's debut season. Their final game, a 0–0 draw with Celtic, ensured that the Glasgow club missed out on the title.

Domestic cups

Hearts entered the Scottish League Cup at the second round and were given a tough game by First Division side Airdrie United, being defeated on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
The club entered the Scottish Cup in the Fourth Round where they faced Edinburgh derby rivals Hibernian at Easter Road. Hearts won the game 2–0 with goals from Christian Nadé and Gary Glen to set up a Fifth Round tie with Falkirk. They were then eliminated by Falkirk following a 1–0 home defeat.

Transfers

Lazslo's first signing came on 20 July 2008 when he signed Ugandan international, David Obua. On 11 August 2008, Mike Tullberg signed a one-year loan deal with Hearts, becoming Laszlo's second signing, but his career in Edinburgh was set back by recurring injury problems.
During the January transfer window the club lost Christophe Berra to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth around £2.5 million. Robbie Neilson was handed the captain's armband following Berra's departure.

Players in

DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionHearts scorerMatch Report
14 July 2008The OvalGlentoran1–1
Umbro TrophyMikoliūnas
16 July 2008East End ParkDunfermline Athletic0–1F
23 July 2008Rheingau StadionRheingau-Auswahl6–0FKšanavičius, Berra, Žaliūkas, Kingston, Stewart, Mäkelä
25 July 2008Fritz Walter StadionKaiserslautern0–1F
29 July 2008BRITA-ArenaSV Wehen Wiesbaden1–2FIvaškevičius
3 August 2008Tynecastle StadiumHull City1–0FKšanavičius
9 August 2008Tynecastle StadiumMotherwell3–2SPLStewart, Kšanavičius, Mikoliūnas
16 August 2008Ibrox StadiumRangers0–2SPL
23 August 2008Tynecastle StadiumSt Mirren2–1SPLMole, Stewart
27 August 2008Tynecastle StadiumAirdrie United0–0
SLC
30 August 2008New Douglas ParkHamilton2–1SPLŽaliūkas, Driver
13 September 2008Falkirk StadiumFalkirk1–2SPLStewart
20 September 2008Tynecastle StadiumInverness CT1–0SPLMikoliūnas
27 September 2008Tannadice ParkDundee United0–3SPL
4 October 2008Tynecastle StadiumKilmarnock1–2SPLKingston
19 October 2008Easter RoadHibernian1–1SPLAguiar
25 October 2008Tynecastle StadiumAberdeen1–1SPLWallace
2 November 2008Tynecastle StadiumCeltic0–2SPL
8 November 2008Love StreetSt Mirren1–0SPLJonsson
12 November 2008Tynecastle StadiumHamilton1–0SPLNadé
15 November 2008Caledonian StadiumInverness CT1–0SPLAguiar
22 November 2008Tynecastle StadiumFalkirk2–1SPLAguiar, Driver
29 November 2008Tynecastle StadiumRangers2–1SPLŽaliūkas, Kingston
13 December 2008Celtic ParkCeltic1–1SPLDriver
20 December 2008Tynecastle StadiumDundee United0–0SPL
27 December 2008Pittodrie StadiumAberdeen0–1SPL
3 January 2009Tynecastle StadiumHibernian0–0SPL
7 January 2009Fir ParkMotherwell0–1SPL
11 January 2009Easter RoadHibernian2–0SCNadé, Glen
17 January 2009Rugby ParkKilmarnock2–0SPLAguiar, Karipidis
24 January 2009Tynecastle StadiumInverness CT3–2SPLObua, Kingston
31 January 2009New Douglas ParkHamilton0–2SPL
7 February 2009Tynecastle StadiumFalkirk0–1SC
14 February 2009Tynecastle StadiumAberdeen2–1SPLNadé, Driver
21 February 2009Tynecastle StadiumSt Mirren1–1SPLJónsson
28 February 2009Tannadice ParkDundee United1–0SPLStewart
4 March 2009Tynecastle StadiumMotherwell2–1SPLDriver, Palazuelos
14 March 2009Easter RoadHibernian0–1SPL
21 March 2009Ibrox StadiumRangers2–2SPLKaripidis, Palazuelos
4 April 2009Tynecastle StadiumKilmarnock3–1SPLElliot, Aguiar
11 April 2009Tynecastle StadiumCeltic1–1SPLAguiar
18 April 2009Falkirk StadiumFalkirk0–0SPL
3 May 2009Ibrox StadiumRangers0–2SPL
7 May 2009Tynecastle StadiumHibernian0–1SPL
13 May 2009Pittodrie StadiumAberdeen0–0SPL
16 May 2009Tynecastle StadiumDundee United3–0SPLWallace, Aguiar, Jónsson
24 May 2009Celtic ParkCeltic0–0SPL

League table

Player statistics

NOTE: League appearances only

Shirt No.PlayerApps GoalsYC RC
1 Steve Banks1000
2 Robbie Neilson25 000
3 Lee Wallace34202
4 Christophe Berra23000
5 Christos Karipidis35201
6 Rubén Palazuelos18 200
7 Saulius Mikoliūnas6 200
8 Bruno Aguiar26700
9 Mike Tullberg2 000
10 Laryea Kingston15 300
11 Andrew Driver29500
12 János Balogh18 001
14 Christian Nadé20 200
15 Juho Mäkelä0 000
16 Adrian Mrowiec6 000
17 David Obua21 200
18 Deividas Česnauskis2 000
19 Jamie Mole8 100
20 Jason Thomson8 000
21 Eggert Jónsson26 301
22 Calum Elliot8 200
23 Michael Stewart33 401
25 Marian Kello13000
26 Marius Žaliūkas28203
29 Audrius Kšanavičius4 100
30 Jamie MacDonald6 000
32 Anthony Basso0000
39 Ryan McGowan0000
39 David Templeton1 000
48 Jonny Stewart0 000
51 Gary Glen2 000
73 Arvydas Novikovas0 000