Hearts were taught an Italian lesson by Fiorentina at Tynecastle in the Europa Conference League.
The Jambos lost 3-0 in Group A, with Rolando Mandragora, Christian Kouame and Luka Jovic scoring for the Serie A outfit. Robbie Neilson ’s side were reduced to 10 men after 48 minutes when defender Lewis Neilson was sent off for a last-man tug on Jovic. The defeat leaves Hearts third in the group, a point behind the Italians and one ahead of Latvian minnows RFS - before a daunting trip to Florence next week.
Vincenzo Italiano’s team collected their first three points of the season in Edinburgh and the game was over by half-time. With just four minutes on the clock, Mandragon waltzed into the box unchallenged and headed home Aleksa Terzic’s cross.It was a poor goal for Hearts to lose so early in the match and it gave them a mountain to climb.
