I got carried away with Hearts hype but hammering Derek McInnes for cup comments is just daft – Ryan Stevenson

Stevo doesn't mind Del demanding his players show ambition but has issued a warning over next two games before Rangers clash

I’m sure plenty of rival fans took great delight in seeing Hearts come a cropper in the Premier Sports Cup.

They’ve been lining up to put the boot in and accused Jambos of getting a bit carried away by the start to the season.

I count myself as one of them and you know what? I did get carried away. I bought into the hype. I was dreaming about winning the trophy and challenging for the league.

But why not? What’s the point of being a football fan if you can’t get excited sometimes?

There’s enough occasions when the game kicks you in the delicates so you need to enjoy it when things are going well.

The only trouble is when things don’t go to plan. When you are high on expectation, it’s a heck of a long way to fall.

I was absolutely gutted by the defeat at St Mirren on Saturday. Beyond disappointed.

It was always going to be a really tough tie but I just fancied Hearts to go deep in the competition – and maybe even win it. That’s why going out was a real sore one.

I can bet you Derek McInnes feels exactly the same way. He’s taken a pounding from the likes of Hibs fans because he said in the build up he felt Hearts should be dreaming of lifting the trophy.

What did they want him to say? Nah, I don’t really fancy us, to be honest? It’s okay, we don’t really want to win it?

Don’t be daft. This is Hearts – they should be aiming to win the cup competitions.

When I was at the club I went into every season believing we could win the LEAGUE. People might say it’s delusional. I call it being ambitious.

McInnes was bang on to say he wanted it and that’s why he’ll be so disappointed.

He’ll have known this was a huge opportunity. You’d think you’d have to beat Celtic to win silverware but you look at Rangers right now and think there’s half a chance of getting to a final. That’s why it’s such a blow.

He put on a brave face after the game, and I thought he was spot on with his assessment.

He pretty much said Paisley was a bit of a culture shock to some of his new signings and it was a harsh lesson on Scottish football. I can’t argue.

The new guys have looked good so far but this was a crash course into the game up here.

I’ve seen it before – and especially at St Mirren. They are a bit of a bogey team for us – I’ve still not got over the CIS Cup Final, by the way – but they won’t have been aware of all that.

They would have walked out for the warm up at a neat little ground with the sun beating down and thinking it was all quite nice. About two seconds after kick-off they will have discovered going there is anything but nice.

The first half was a real eye-opener but in fairness, I thought Hearts were the better side in the second period and in extra time.

Penalties are a lottery and it didn’t go their way. It’s horrible, but it happens.

If it had been a league game then it would have been a bump in the road but you can dust yourselves down and pick up three weeks the following weekend. In the cup, you’re out and it’s over, and it’ll stick in the throat until they get a crack at the Scottish Cup in the New Year.

But Hearts cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves about missing out on the first piece of silverware of the season.

The season is barely up and running and there’s so much still to play for. As cliche as it sounds, the new players will have learned a lot from the St Mirren game.

They’ll know what to expect every week and realise there’s no such thing as an easy game in the Premiership. Look at the next few games. Motherwell are at Tynecastle and then it’s Livingston away – before Rangers.

On paper, some might think it’s six points ahead of Ibrox. Well, they can get that idea right out of their heads. Nothing is given in this league.

There are not many positives about going out of the cup but it might just be a wee reality check for the squad and it’s now about the reaction to the disappointment.

And there’s no reason why Hearts can silence those mouthy rival fans again.