Craig Gordon declares NO Hearts player needs Europa League lift as he targets instant recovery from 'sore one'

Optimism and confidence are not ingredients that can be kept in a sealed jar. They are more like feathers on a palm of a hand and it doesn’t take much to see both blow away on a breeze.

Hearts were full to the brim after their opening Premiership draw with Rangers that really should have been a victory. A fortnight later and optimism has left the building with confidence last spotted stepping into the lift heading for the basement. Hearts can recover and enjoy a successful season in the league, the Scottish Cup and perhaps even Europe. But that can’t ease the immediate pain of this Premier Sports Cup exit that shattered the mood around Gorgie.

Ringo Starr had just nicked the drumsticks off Pete Best the last time Hearts lifted the League Cup. Steven Naismith’s decision to rotate his squad ahead of Viktoria Plzen this week – with eight changes – at Falkirk will attract attention but it will be a red herring. Hearts were on the end of a drubbing at Dens Park the week previous and needed a shake-up and the players who came in were hardly fringe men.

Lawrence Shankland being left on the bench was the only real eye opener but even then, Liam Boyce is a proven Premiership frontman. No, the Jambos can’t claim strength in depth one minute then lament the fact some of them couldn’t stay afloat in the deep end at Falkirk the next.

Craig Gordon was one of the changes and the club hero was crushed by the result. He said: “It’s 62 years since we won this competition and it’s not going to be this year. It’s really disappointing.

“We had chances, didn’t take them and Falkirk then grew into the game. It’s not good enough. Our aspirations are to be getting to Hampden, to be in with a chance of winning every competition. This is a sore