Did you know that 12 publishers turned down J.K. Rowling before someone took a chance on her Motherwell-supporting wizard and his Hogwarts chums? Or that Decca Records had the chance to sign The Beatles but thought that guitar bands were falling out of fashion? Some of the worst decisions of all time, no doubt about it.
Right up there in fact with Hearts manager Ian Cathro deciding to deploy Lennard Sowah at centre-half in yesterday’s defeat at Partick Thistle.
The former Hamilton left-back looked at times as if he was a fan who had won a competition to play in a testimonial such was his ineptitude, and the move took all of five minutes to blow up in Cathro’s face as the big man sold the jerseys for the opening goal of the afternoon at Firhill and set the tone.
Ryan Edwards floated a ball into the area that should have been meat and drink to Sowah, but he skewed his header up into the air allowing Liam Lindsay to head back down to Doolan, who produced an instant turn and finish with his left foot past Jack Hamilton.
For Cathro, who now has just four wins from his 14 games in charge, the selection of the player there in place of the injured Aaron Hughes wasn’t the main issue though, as he challenged his players to start repaying the backing of their clearly angry support.
"It's a difficult moment,” Cathro said. “We said on Wednesday night that we didn't do enough in a game of that magnitude to give everybody what they needed to see from the team that they love.
"Today, we didn't do it either. So, everything that was said on Wednesday, is the same situation. We have to progress.
"What's important is that everyone is together and clear in their mind about what their responsibilities are.
"The responsibility is to find more and be clear and honest with themselves about what everyone is giving. That is what through time that earns back the trust of the fans.
"And remember it was me who said we had to do that. I said that, I put that out and accept the responsibility.
"I chose to do that, it wasn't an accusation, and now we have to do that.”
It was just so easy for Thistle, who were passing the ball about without a care in the world as the disjointed Hearts side failed to get near them.
That was neatly exemplified as Edwards strolled through midfield before releasing Callum Booth on the left, who whipped a ball straight onto the head of Doolan free in the area, but Hamilton did brilliantly to parry away his effort on goal low to his right.
Hearts were woeful and Thistle really should have been out of sight, but any unlikely threat of a comeback was dismissed along with Isma Goncalves on the hour.
It was a sending-off wholly in-keeping with the shambolic nature of Hearts day, as the forward needlessly fouled Christie Elliott to pick up a second yellow from referee Nick Walsh. The stupidity of his actions was compounded by the fact that he had picked up his first caution for dissent – after Hearts had been awarded a free-kick.
Thistle made the most of their man advantage with a little over a quarter an hour remaining as Abdul Osman chased what looked to be a lost cause on the right, kept the ball in and then hooked it back into the area.
Sowah missed his attempted clearance, allowing Lindsay to take a touch in the area before finishing like a seasoned centre-forward from 12 yards.
“I took one of the best touches I'll ever take in my life,” said a still startled-looking Lindsay. “Then I hit the best shot I'll ever take as well.
“I'm on seven now and I don't see why I can't get to 10. I'd still take clean sheets and wins over goals. It's all about the team right now – we want a consistent streak.
“We felt comfortable throughout the game today and we never looked out of control.”
Ain’t that the truth.
PARTICK THISTLE: Cerny; Devine, Keown, Lindsay; Dumbuya (Elliott, 50’), Barton, Osman, Edwards; Erskine (Lawless, 76’); Doolan (Azeez, 83’)
Scorers: Doolan (6’), Lindsay (73’)
Booked: Elliott, Lawless, Azeez
HEARTS: Hamilton; Struna, Sowah, Avlonitis, Rherras (Choulay, 80’); Djoum, Tziolis, Nowak, Walker (Nicholson, 42’); Currie (Bikey, 57’), Goncalves.
Booked: Nicholson, Goncalves
Sent off: Goncalves
Referee: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 4143
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