It's a new ball game for Bannon

3 Nov 1992

WISDOM will be paramount if Hearts are to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their UEFA Cup second-round tie against Standard Liege tomorrow night, and yet one of their most experienced men will be treading new ground.

For 34-year-old midfield player Eamonn Bannon, 17 years a senior player, is trying to overcome something he has never encountered in 67 European matches with Dundee United and the Edinburgh club.

Thirteen years on the European circuit has given Bannon the experience that Joe Jordan's team will need in Belgium, but he was happy to be frank and realistic over the task that faces his team-mates.

In that time he has never appeared in a team that has travelled for the away leg of a tie a goal down from the first match.

"I've gone away from home many times drawing but this is a new situation for me," said Bannon.

"And against a team that have the quality that Standard showed at Tynecastle it makes the job we face one of the most difficult I've had to contend with."

Bannon, Wayne Foster, and Ally Mauchlen came through a reserve-team test against Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday without worry after recent injuries.

But manager Jordan has worries to balance that good news, for George Wright is discounted because of injury and Derek Ferguson is rated an even money chance with the same problem.

Taken from the Herald