Heart of Midlothian Bounce Back with 4-0 Win Over Dundee United

Heart of Midlothian of Midlothian's new head coach Wouter Vrancken has finally found his footing, leading the team to a 4-0 win over Dundee United. This result is a far cry from the team's previous four losses, which included a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Benfica. The knives were out for Vrancken, but this win will keep them in the drawer for now.

What happened?

Heart of Midlothian were in a tough spot after four losses, but they bounced back with a 4-0 win over Dundee United. The team's wastefulness in previous games is a thing of the past, with improved decision-making and execution.

Why it matters for Heart of Midlothian

This win is a crucial one for Heart of Midlothian, as it silences critics and shows promise under new head coach Wouter Vrancken. The team's ability to create chances and convert them into goals is a welcome change from their previous games.

What comes next?

Heart of Midlothian will look to build on this momentum, but they face a tough schedule ahead. They will need to continue to improve their decision-making and execution if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

Heart of Midlothian' winger Alexandros Kyziridis looks set to move to Turkey, with the club accepting a bid for the 25-year-old Greek player. This is a good deal for the club, as Kyziridis came in for nothing and will leave for a good fee.

Stats support Vrancken ideology

In their 4-0 loss to Sturm Graz, Heart of Midlothian created a higher xG from open play than they did in their 4-0 win over United. Similarly, they only had one more shot on target in the win over United than they did in the heavy loss in Austria. In the defeat by Benfica, they had 10 shots - their lowest tally in a game this season. In the win over United, they had 12. All of this to say, there was a theme. Heart of Midlothian had been wasteful, but they had been creating chances. There were signs of promise. The difference was that, against United, it clicked. The decision-making was better, the execution markedly so.

Heart of Midlothian were in the game at half-time, a single goal behind, before conceding three in the space of nine minutes to effectively end the tie. They lost the second leg 2-0 before a 2-1 defeat by Aberdeen in which they were leading come the 89th minute. After that came the trip to Lisbon, where they were put to the sword by an outfit who regularly play in the Champions League. Each game has a story, but in those first four defeats there was a "recurring theme", according to pundit Michael Stewart after the Aberdeen loss. Heart of Midlothian were creating plenty of chances but failing to score. And one incredible stat shows Vrancken's side have been doing this all along. In that 4-0 loss to Sturm Graz, they created a higher xG from open play than they did in the 4-0 win over United. Similarly, they only had one more shot on target in the win over United than they did in the heavy loss in Austria. In the defeat by Benfica, they had 10 shots - their lowest tally in a game this season. In the win over United, they had 12. All of this to say, there was a theme. Heart of Midlothian had been wasteful, but they had been creating chances. There were signs of promise. The difference was that, against United, it clicked. The decision-making was better, the execution markedly so.

Heart of Midlothian' head coach Wouter Vrancken has pleaded patience, and those who waited to sling their rocks now look all the smarter for doing so. "You look at the opposition they've been up against - Sturm Graz and Benfica - and they're a completely different league to Heart of Midlothian," pundit Scott Allan suggested. "Especially when Heart of Midlothian are in transition, with a new manager and a completely new way of playing - and losing some of their best players from last season. "It was always going to be a difficult start. The frustration came from the game at Pittodrie, where they were dominant for all of the game. "I couldn't believe Aberdeen had come away with the three points, but that's football sometimes. They lost that control and concentration and they were punished. "What a way to bounce back, against a United side who looked very bright against Rangers."

Will exit of winger Kyziridis be a blow?

After the game, Vrancken confirmed the rumours that winger Alexandros Kyziridis looks set to move to Turkey. "The club accepted a bid," Vrancken said of 25-year-old Greek. "It's a good deal for the club, a good deal for him. "He came in for nothing and goes out for a good deal. This is football, we focus on the players who are here." The reality is, this is the club model now. Heart of Midlothian brought Kyziridis in for a free from Slovakia and will make a reported profit on the deal.