Slavia's bad run gives Hearts real hope

RAY HEPBURN

30 Sep 1992

HEARTS go into tonight's UEFA Cup first round, second-leg match with Slavia Prague determined to continue a

sequence of results that the Czechs are anxious to forget.

Going into the Tynecastle leg 1-0 down from their trip to Prague two weeks ago, the Edinburgh side are aware that in seven previous European ties Slavia have never won away from home.

Manager Joe Jordan yesterday tried to enlist the help of his club's supporters in order to make this evening's experience away from their homelands as uncomfortable as their previous efforts have been.

"Teams from that part of the world simply don't like coming here, with the crowd just a few feet from them, and the commotion that our supporters can create," explained Jordan.

"All the best work from Scottish teams in the past has been done at home in a typical Scottish atmosphere."

As he and his players headed down the east coast for a peaceful, pre-match night, Jordan was disappointed as he still didn't know his exact team.

John Robertson, Alan McLaren, Gary Mackay, and Ally Mauchlen need until this afternoon to prove their fitness.

And the manager identified the club's top scorer, Robertson, as an important player in the bid to continue Slavia's misery on the European stage.

"Our intention must be to get the ball into their penalty area frequently," said Jordan.

"That's where John is most effective, as he's proved over the years."

Neil Berry, outstanding in the first leg, is out after having twisted a knee in Saturday's defeat at Airdrie, but there was even more menacing news for Jordan when the Czechs flew in yesterday afternoon.

One of Europe's most exciting players, Yugoslav striker Dragisa Binic, who missed the first leg through injury, has recovered and will start the match.

Taken from the Herald