Storm Graz 4 – 0 Hearts

New Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken endured a nightmare debut as his side’s Champions League hopes faded with a 4-0 defeat against Storm Graz.

Hearts conceded set-piece goals in the early stages of each half and conceded twice more during a torrid spell before the hour mark.

The visitors missed two great chances and played some good football in the first half but they have a mountain to climb ahead of next Tuesday’s second qualifying round second leg at Tynecastle.

Dropping into the Europa League looks almost certain, where they will face either Benfica or Swiss side St Gallen, with the winners of the tie facing either Fenerbahce or Gornik Zagreb.

With Vrancken Sint-Truiden guaranteed Europa League football, the Rangers manager followed key players Laurence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to replace Derek McInnes at Tennecastle.

The Belgian named two debutants in his starting line-up, wide player Calvin Miller and centre-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott, while Jamie McCart was preferred to Hearts’ key player Stuart Findlay in central defence.

Hearts also changed set-piece coaches in the summer and Liam Ross came in for Ross Grant after his move to Celtic.

Set-plays were one of the team’s strengths in their unlikely title challenge but they looked weak from the dead ball throughout.

Despite a promising start which saw Harry Milne make a save, Hearts conceded within four minutes from a long throw. John Gorenc Stankovic ran away from his marker and raced home past McCart.

Graz attacker Sidi Jatta headed off the post following a corner and Aleksandar Sholo, who was also selected after sealing the impending move to Mainz, saved an effort with his feet.

Heart improved. Claudio Braga forced a decent effort into a save before Landry Cabore shot straight at the keeper from 10 yards after a good run by Oisin McEntee. Alexandros Kyziridis missed a better chance soon after when he flicked the ball wide after good work from Bragger.

The referee gave the Austrians a penalty for a very harsh handball decision against Milan and returned the award after looking at his VAR monitor.

Graz dominated the opening stages of the second half and Jayland Mitchell headed home from close range following a corner on 50 minutes. Sholo seemed more concerned with pushing the attacker away than dealing with the inswinger, misjudging Cabore’s flight and distracting Mitchell Braga.

Milan’s third goal was scored three minutes later by Luca Weinhandel after Hearts’ defense missed several chances to mount a decisive challenge.

Showalo held firm as Emran Soglo curled the ball in from the inside of the far post, and Jurgen Heil had enough time and space to convert the return pass in the 59th minute before Jurgen Heil fired a shot past the goalkeeper at his near post.

Graz seemed settled for four and Hearts couldn’t get a lifeline.

McEntee messed up a free header, McCart failed to trouble the goalkeeper from a string of headed chances and Tom Renaud fired twice from 22 yards.