Double blunder won't cost us Euro slot, insists Hearts star Mikoliunas

Feb 23 2009

SAULIUS MIKOLIUNAS is adamant his double late blunder won't damage Hearts in their bid for Europe.

The Lithuanian returned after a nightmare three-month injury absence with 14 minutes remaining of the Tynecastle clash against St Mirren.

It should have been a joyous comeback sealed by a win bonus after Eggert Jonsson put the hosts in front within seconds of Miko's entrance to the fray.

But it all turned sour for the Baltic fall guy in the closing stages as his two lapses cost Csaba Laszlo and his colleagues.

Blunder one came when,with just 90 seconds of regulation time to go,he wildly hit a golden chance high and wide from David Obua's cross.

To compound the pain, Mikoliunas then lost possession and grappled Jack Ross to the deck to concede the injury-time free-kick from which Saints levelled.

With Aberdeen and Dundee United each dropping two points at Pittodrie it was a marvellous chance blown by Hearts to cement their place as favourites for third spot.

But Mikoliunas is confident it won't be costly in the final analysis.

He said: "I thought that we deserved to win and we were unfortunate with the equaliser. We are disappointed but we'll look ahead to our next game against Dundee United.

"If I had scored the game would have been finished. But you live and learn from these things.

"I tried to hit it first time but maybe I should have taken a touch rather than lash out.

"However, I'm very happy to be back and now I just want to play as we need to keep working hard to hold our position.

"There is still a long way to go - there are 12 games left for us to pick up points from.

"It's a very big opportunity and it would be good for Hearts and for me to be in Europe again. I'm confident we can do it."

Taken from the Daily Record