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2020–21 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

Heart of Midlothian 2020–21 football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2020–21 season was the 140th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), with the team participating in the Scottish Championship. It was the club's first season of play in the second tier of Scottish football since 2015, and only the second since 1983, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership,[3] after the previous season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[4] On 10 April 2021, Hearts earned automatic promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, having been in first place for most of the season.[5] They also competed in this season's Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup, losing in the second round of each competition respectively.

Quick facts season, Chairman ...
Heart of Midlothian
2020–21 season
ChairmanAnn Budge
ManagerRobbie Neilson[1]
StadiumTynecastle Park
ChampionshipWinners[2]
Scottish CupSecond round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Liam Boyce (14)

All:
Liam Boyce (16)
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Hearts had reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all football activity in Scotland during the previous season. Their semi-final against Hibs, which was originally due to be played in April, was rescheduled to take place later in the year.[6] Hearts played the rearranged fixture against Hibs on 31 October, winning 2–1. On 20 December, they lost the 2020 Scottish Cup Final to Celtic in a penalty shootout following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season / Friendlies

2 September 2020 Friendly St Mirren 1–2 Heart of Midlothian St Mirren Park
McAllister 57' Report Roberts 33'
Walker 43'
Attendance: None[note 1]
5 September 2020 Friendly Burnley 4–1 Heart of Midlothian Barnfield Training Centre
Rodriguez 5' (pen.)
Richardson 18'
Thompson 30'
Guðmundsson 47'
Report Wighton 37' Attendance: None[note 1]
18 September 2020 Friendly Heart of Midlothian 5–0 East Fife Tynecastle Park
Halkett 10'
Frear 29'
Walker 34'
Boyce 46'
Hamilton 79'
Report Attendance: None[note 1]
22 September 2020 Friendly Heart of Midlothian 3–0 Falkirk Oriam
Boyce 44'
Walker 75'
Wighton 82' (pen.)
Report Attendance: None[note 1]
26 September 2020 Friendly Heart of Midlothian 2–0 Partick Thistle Tynecastle Park
Walker 10'
Halkett 58'
Report Attendance: None[note 1]
2 October 2020 Friendly Partick Thistle 0–2 Heart of Midlothian Firhill Stadium
Report Walker 61'
Irving 74'
Attendance: None[note 1]

Scottish Championship

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland forcing an October start to the Scottish Championship season,[7] the length of the league was reduced from thirty-six to twenty-seven games.[8] The fixture list for the truncated Championship was announced on 29 July,[9] starting with a home game against Dundee.

16 October 2020 1 Heart of Midlothian 6–2 Dundee Tynecastle Park
19:45 Smith 4'
Ginnelly 25'
Boyce 34' (Penalty)
Kingsley 45+2', 84'
Halliday 90'
BBC Report Adam 27'
Mullen 68'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Munro
23 October 2020 2 Arbroath 0–1 Heart of Midlothian Gayfield Park
19:45 BBC Report Wighton 70' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Aitken
7 November 2020 3 Heart of Midlothian 2–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tynecastle Park
19:45 Naismith 47'
Boyce 70'
BBC Report Doran 86' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Madden
20 November 2020 4 Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 Heart of Midlothian East End Park
19:45 Thomas 49'
Murray 54'
BBC Report Kingsley 84' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Robertson
24 November 2020 5 Heart of Midlothian 3–0 Alloa Athletic Tynecastle Park
19:45 Smith 6'
Halliday 24'
Haring 37'
BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Irvine
5 December 2020 6 Greenock Morton 0–2 Heart of Midlothian Cappielow
15:00 BBC Report Walker 37', 48' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Aitken
12 December 2020 7 Heart of Midlothian 6–1 Queen of the South Tynecastle Park
15:00 Naismith 20'
Boyce 45+1', 46'
Walker 76'
Frear 82'
Ginnelly 90+1'
BBC Report Obileye 72' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Collum
26 December 2020 8 Heart of Midlothian 5–3 Ayr United Tynecastle Park
15:00 Kingsley 11'
Wighton 68', 74'
Lee 71'
Boyce 81'
BBC Report Smith 57'
McCowan 60'
Walsh 90+4'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Munro
29 December 2020 9 Heart of Midlothian 3–1 Arbroath Tynecastle Park
19:45 Naismith 30', 33', 36' (Penalty) BBC Report Doolan 48' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Walsh
2 January 2021 10 Dundee 3–1 Heart of Midlothian Dens Park
19:20 McGhee 14'
Mullen 36'
Afolabi 84' (pen.)
Irving 56' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Robertson
16 January 2021 11 Alloa Athletic 1–3 Heart of Midlothian Stark's Park
15:00 Williamson Yellow card 84' Red card
Cawley 87'
BBC Report Irving 35'
Frear 45'
Ginnelly 90+3'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Muir
23 January 2021 12 Heart of Midlothian 2–3 Raith Rovers Tynecastle Park
15:00 Boyce 58', 90' BBC Report Ugwu 5'
Duku 47' (pen.)
Tumilty 52'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Beaton
26 January 2021 13 Raith Rovers 0–4 Heart of Midlothian Stark's Park
19:45 Boyce 36'
Henderson 39'
Gnanduillet 84', 90'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Anderson
30 January 2021 14 Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Dunfermline Athletic Tynecastle Park
15:00 Walker 81' BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Collum
5 February 2021 15 Ayr United 0–1 Heart of Midlothian Somerset Park
19:45 BBC Report Boyce 48' (Penalty) Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: McLean
12 February 2021 16 Queen of the South 1–1 Heart of Midlothian Palmerston Park
19:45 Obileye 43' (pen.) BBC Report Boyce 90' (Penalty) Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Steven
20 February 2021 17 Heart of Midlothian 1–1 Greenock Morton Tynecastle Park
15:00 Walker 71' BBC Report McGuffie 53' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Dickinson
26 February 2021 18 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–1 Heart of Midlothian Caledonian Stadium
19:45 Storey 10' BBC Report Boyce 36' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Walsh
6 March 2021 19 Heart of Midlothian 2–1 Dundee Tynecastle Park
15:00 Halliday 35'
Gnanduillet 58'
Haring Red card 90+4'
BBC Report Cummings 63' (Penalty) Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Robertson
13 March 2021 20 Heart of Midlothian 2–0 Ayr United Tynecastle Park
15:00 Gnanduillet 72'
Walker 86'
BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Steven
20 March 2021 21 Arbroath 0–0 Heart of Midlothian Gayfield Park
15:00 BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Anderson
27 March 2021 22 Heart of Midlothian 2–3 Queen of the South Tynecastle Park
15:00 Popescu 34'
Gnanduillet 72'
BBC Report Shields 2', 22'
Irving 82' (Own goal)
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Duncan
3 April 2021 23 Dunfermline Athletic 0–0 Heart of Midlothian East End Park
15:00 BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Steven
9 April 2021 24 Heart of Midlothian 6–0 Alloa Athletic Tynecastle Park
19:45 Boyce 26', 32' (Penalty), 53'
Henderson 51'
McEneff 71'
Walker 88'
BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: McLean
20 April 2021 25 Greenock Morton 0–0 Heart of Midlothian Cappielow
19:05 BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Beaton
24 April 2021 26 Heart of Midlothian 3–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tynecastle Park
15:00 Mackay-Steven 6', 31'
McEneff 9'
BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Madden
30 April 2021 27 Raith Rovers 0–4 Heart of Midlothian Stark's Park
19:45 BBC Report Mackay-Steven 11', 73'
Henderson 57'
Naismith 70'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Munro

Scottish Cup

23 March 2021 Second round Brora Rangers 2–1 Heart of Midlothian Dudgeon Park
19:45 MacRae 12'
MacLean 75'
BBC Report Berra 70' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Stuart

Scottish League Cup

Hearts were drawn into Group A of the League Cup group stage, alongside Cowdenbeath, East Fife Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers.[10]

10 October 2020 Group stage Cowdenbeath 0–1 Heart of Midlothian Bayview Stadium
15:00 SPFL Report Halkett 78' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Newlands
13 October 2020 Group stage Heart of Midlothian 3–1 Raith Rovers Tynecastle Park
19:45 Wighton 2' (pen.), 40' (pen.), 87' SPFL Report Duku 54' Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Napier
10 November 2020 Group stage East Fife 2–3 Heart of Midlothian Bayview Stadium
19:45 Hamilton 39'
Wallace 64'
BBC Report Lee 1', 3'
Irving 62'
Attendance: None[note 1]
Referee: Anderson
28 November 2020 Second round Alloa Athletic 1–0 (a.e.t.) Heart of Midlothian Recreation Park
15:00 Trouten 109' (Penalty) BBC Report Attendance: None[note 1]

First team player statistics

Captains

Steven Naismith continued as captain for the 2020–21 season,[11] having been appointed to the role during the previous season.[12]

More information No, Pos ...
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Last updated: 30 April 2021
Source: Competitive match reports.
Competitive matches only
Matches started as captain only
Country: FIFA nationality; No.: Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.

Squad information

During the 2020–21 campaign, Hearts used thirty-one players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances[a] and goals[b] scored by each player.

Last Updated 30 April 2021
More information Number, Position ...
Number Position Nation Name Totals Championship League Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland SCO Craig Gordon[c] 31026+003+002+00
2 DF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Smith[c] 28225+021+002+00
3 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Aidy White[d] 1803+705+002+10
4 DF Scotland SCO John Souttar 404+000+000+00
5 DF Austria AUT Peter Haring[e] 2119+512+201+20
6 DF Scotland SCO Christophe Berra[f] 1319+002+002+01
7 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Walker[c] 27810+1073+113+00
8 MF England ENG Olly Lee[d] 1739+114+121+10
9 FW Ivory Coast CIV Armand Gnanduillet 1458+550+001+00
10 FW Northern Ireland NIR Liam Boyce[c][g] 291624+1141+002+12
11 FW England ENG Jordan Roberts[f] 1104+201+301+00
12 DF England ENG Shay Logan 505+000+000+00
13 GK Scotland SCO Ross Stewart 401+002+001+00
14 FW Scotland SCO Steven Naismith[d] 26611+962+201+10
15 FW Scotland SCO Craig Wighton[d][h] 1575+333+231+11
16 MF Scotland SCO Andy Halliday[c] 30324+231+102+00
17 MF Scotland SCO Gary Mackay-Steven 18414+34001+00
18 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Aaron McEneff 14211+220+001+00
19 MF Scotland SCO Andy Irving[d] 29316+722+112+10
20 MF Scotland SCO Harry Cochrane 100+001+000+00
21 DF Scotland SCO Stephen Kingsley[c][h] 26520+042+202+01
24 MF England ENG Elliott Frear[i] 1225+322+100+10
25 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Brandon 501+004+000+00
26 DF Scotland SCO Craig Halkett[c] 32127+002+013+00
27 MF Scotland SCO Lewis Moore 100+001+000+00
28 DF Romania ROU Mihai Popescu[f] 24114+414+101+00
29 MF Curaçao CUW Gervane Kastaneer 703+300+001+00
30 MF England ENG Josh Ginnelly[i][h] 1043+332+100+11
31 FW Scotland SCO Euan Henderson[i] 1536+332+200+20
36 MF Scotland SCO Scott McGill 400+103+000+00
54 MF Scotland SCO Finlay Pollock 200+200+000+00
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  • Last updated: 30 April 2021
  • Source: Match Reports[13][14]
  • Ordered by Squad Number.

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Scottish Championship, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Disciplinary record

During the 2020–21 season, Hearts players were issued forty-five yellow cards[j] and one red. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player.

Last updated 30 April 2021
More information Number, Position ...
Number Position Nation Name Championship League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
1GKScotlandCraig Gordon20001[k]03[k]0
2DFNorthern IrelandMichael Smith20002[l]04[l]0
3DFRepublic of IrelandAidy White00000000
4DFScotlandJohn Souttar10000010
5DFAustriaPeter Haring21000021
6DFScotlandChristophe Berra00000000
7MFScotlandJamie Walker40101[k]05[k]0
8MFEnglandOlly Lee20000020
9FWIvory CoastArmand Gnanduillet10000000
10FWNorthern IrelandLiam Boyce10000000
11FWEnglandJordan Roberts00100010
12DFEnglandShay Logan00000000
13GKScotlandRoss Stewart00000000
14FWScotlandSteven Naismith20101[k]04[k]0
15FWScotlandCraig Wighton10001[k]02[k]0
16MFScotlandAndy Halliday40002[l]06[l]0
17MFScotlandGary Mackay-Steven00001010
19MFScotlandAndy Irving40001050
20MFScotlandHarry Cochrane00000000
21FWScotlandStephen Kingsley10000010
22MFFranceLoïc Damour00000000
23GKCzech RepublicZdeněk Zlámal00000000
24MFEnglandElliott Frear00000000
25MFScotlandJamie Brandon00000000
26DFScotlandCraig Halkett30001[k]03[k]0
27MFScotlandLewis Moore00000000
28DFRomaniaMihai Popescu00001[k]01[k]0
29MFCuraçaoGervane Kastaneer10000010
30MFEnglandJosh Ginnelly00000000
31FWScotlandEuan Henderson00100010
36MFScotlandScott McGill00100010
54MFScotlandFinlay Pollock10000010
Total 3215012[j]045[j]1
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Goal scorers

Last updated 30 April 2021

More information Place, Position ...
Place Position Nation Name Championship League Cup Scottish Cup Total
1FWNorthern IrelandLiam Boyce1402[g]16[g]
2MFScotlandJamie Walker7108
3FWScotlandCraig Wighton331[h]7[h]
4FWScotlandSteven Naismith6006
5DFScotlandStephen Kingsley401[h]5[h]
FWIvory CoastArmand Gnanduillet5005
6MFEnglandJosh Ginnelly301[h]4[h]
MFScotlandGary Mackay-Steven4004
7MFEnglandOlly Lee1203
MFScotlandAndy Halliday3003
FWScotlandEuan Henderson3003
8DFNorthern IrelandMichael Smith2002
MFScotlandAndy Irving2102
MFEnglandElliott Frear2002
MFRepublic of IrelandAaron McEneff2002
9DFAustriaPeter Haring1001
DFScotlandCraig Halkett0101
DFScotlandChristophe Berra0011
DFRomaniaMihai Popescu1001
Total 6386[b]74[b]
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Clean sheets

More information R, Pos ...
R Pos Nat Name Championship League Cup Scottish Cup Total
1 GK Scotland Craig Gordon 13 2 0 15
2 GK Scotland Ross Stewart 0 0 0 0
Total 132015
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Last updated: 30 April 2021
Source: Match reports in Competitive matches

Team statistics

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Heart of Midlothian (C, P) 27 17 6 4 63 24 +39 57 Promotion to the Premiership
2 Dundee (O, P) 27 12 9 6 49 40 +9 45 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3 Raith Rovers 27 12 7 8 45 36 +9 43 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4 Dunfermline Athletic 27 10 9 8 38 34 +4 39
5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 8 12 7 36 31 +5 36
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Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[15]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

League Cup table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HOM RAI ICT EFI COW
1 Heart of Midlothian 4 4 0 0 0 8 3 +5 12 Qualification for the Second round — 3–1 1–0 — —
2 Raith Rovers 4 2 1 0 1 7 7 0 8 — — p3–3 2–1 —
3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 1 1 1 1 4 4 0 6 — — — 1–0 p0–0
4 East Fife 4 1 0 0 3 5 6 −1 3 2–3 — — — 2–0
5 Cowdenbeath 4 0 0 1 3 0 4 −4 1 0–1 0–1 — — —
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Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[17]

Division summary

More information Round, Ground ...
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627
GroundHAHAHAHHHAAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHA
ResultWWWLWWWWWLWLWWWDDDWWDLDWDWW
Position113321111111111111111111111
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Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2021. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Management statistics

Last updated on 30 April 2021
More information Name, From ...
Name From To P W D L Win%[nb 1]
Robbie Neilson[m] 6 October 2020 Present 352276062.86
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Club

Staff

More information Name, Role ...
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Deaths

The following players and people associated with the club died over the course of the season. Former captain Jim Townsend,[23] 2012 Scottish Cup winning captain Marius Zaliukas[24] and former coach Walter Borthwick.[25]

Management

Following football being suspended indefinitely during the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[26] Manager Daniel Stendel advised the club he would not take any wages during the closed period and returned to Germany.[27] Stendel's contract included a clause which rendered him a free agent should the club be relegated.[28]

Following the vote to end the 2019–20 season and Hearts being relegated on an average points basis,[29] Stendel's contract was ended, rendering him a Free Agent.[30] Despite Stendel indicating he wished to negotiate a new contract,[30] on 21 June 2020, Hearts appointed Dundee United Manager Robbie Neilson,[31] He had previously managed Hearts between 2014 and 2016[32] and was awarded a three-year contract.[1] Stendel's assistants Jorg Sievers and Dale Tonge also departed the club.[33] On 12 August 2020, Neilson's former United assistants Gordon Forrest and Lee McCulloch were appointed as First Team Assistant Managers. They joined on a three-year deal.[34]

International selection

Over the course of the season a number of the Hearts squad were called up on international duty. Craig Gordon[35] was called up to represent Scotland while Michael Smith and Liam Boyce were selected to represent Northern Ireland.[36]

Awards

More information Name, Award ...
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Transfers

See also

Notes

  1. Attendance restricted due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  1. Win% is the percentage of matches won rounded to two decimal places.
  2. Emergency Seven Day Loan.[72]
  3. Emergency Loan.[75] name="note3"
  4. Returned from Emergency loan at Stirling Albion, before being loaned out for a second time.[77]
  1. Includes a total of 22 starting appearances and 10 substitute appearances by players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches, as specified (these are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some statistical resources).
  2. Includes a total of 5 goals scored by players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches, as specified (these are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some statistical resources).
  3. Includes two starting appearances in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  4. Includes one starting appearance and one substitute appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  5. Includes two substitute appearances in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  6. Includes one starting appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  7. Includes two goals scored in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  8. Includes one goal scored in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  9. Includes one substitute appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  10. Includes a total of ten yellow cards issued to players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches (these statistics are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some resources).
  11. Includes one yellow card issued in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  12. Includes two yellow cards issued in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
  13. Includes two matches (one win, one draw followed by a lost penalty shootout) in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup (these statistics are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some resources).

References

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