Catchy Hearts chant leaves Claudio Braga 'shocked' as he thanks punters for learning the words

Claudio Braga’s second-half double was a worthy reason to play Radio Ga Ga, with fans creating a ditty to that tune in honour of the Portuguese ace

Hearts fans were going gaga after seeing their team come back from 3-0 down to draw with Motherwell.

And it was not just because Queen’s classic anthem was being belted out over the PA system.

Claudio Braga’s second-half double was a worthy reason to play Radio Ga Ga, with Jambos creating a ditty to that tune in honour of the Portuguese ace.

It was a far cry from the previous weekend when Braga left the pitch in tears after he missed the only penalty in the Premier Sports Cup shootout defeat to St Mirren.

But his off-the-cuff play and five goals in eight games has endeared him to the supporters and the 25-year-old summer recruit is delighted he has already become a Gorgie favourite.

He said: “It’s always good when the fans are on your side – and getting a song so early and getting the support I felt from the crowd, I’m delighted with that.

“I’m very, very happy because it was already a dream to come here. So to get here and make the impact that I’ve had, I’m very grateful to God

“When I heard the song for the first time, I was shocked. In my head I was like, ‘Jesus, I don’t think anybody will learn that song’. And then they just started singing the whole song and I was even more shocked.

“Because I thought, ‘okay, the last part with the chorus everybody will sing if I score a goal, but I need to score for everybody’.

“I’m very, very grateful for that and it hopefully shows that I’m trying to do a good job.”

The Hearts supporters applauded their team off the park after the players climbed off the canvas to earn an unlikely point against a Motherwell team that outplayed and teased them for over an hour

But before Harry Milne’s 65th minute strike triggered that comeback, Tynecastle turned toxic with the demanding fans booing their team.

Braga heard some of it from the bench before he was brought on at the break, and has called for unity from the fans. He added: “I actually didn’t know that side in a way, but I’ve only been here for a few months.

“What I know is that we are so much better when we get the crowd with us. Of course I understand the frustration.

“I was a supporter for a club in Portugal and if I see my team losing 3-0 of course I’m going to be frustrated.

“And I understand the frustration and it’s difficult to ask and it’s difficult to accept this in a way. But it’s so much better for us and so much different when we get the crowd pushing for us when we get good stuff.

“I understand that we need to know which club we are representing and that demands a lot of responsibility. After the first goal the crowd started pushing us – then we could win the game.

“The energy came from the players but the stadium too and that helps a lot.

“I know it’s difficult to ask in a way, like be a little bit more patient because I’m just here, but I gratefully ask for that.”

Motherwell were cruising after going three up after 62 minutes through Callum Slattery’s first-half opener and further strikes by Tawanda Maswanhise and Emmanuel Longelo.

After Milne pulled one back, Braga then added a double before being denied a winner – and a hat-trick – when his last-gasp effort came back off the post. Hearts fans were wondering why Braga did not start and boss Derek McInnes even said it would help if he picked the right team from the start.

Asked about being on the bench for the second game in a row, Braga said: “Of course any player would like that to start – it’s the goal.

“If I can, I’ll start every game and I’ll play every game 90 minutes. But that’s the coach’s decision, he did it for a reason but it’s always good to believe that some bad things come for a good reason.

“So the reason was for me to come in and get my first goals in the league and try to make an impact.

“I just need to work better, do a little bit more because I know some things of what I do in the game I should do differently. I’ll just work a little bit more and get the message as well and hopefully I’ll start more games.”