There but for one dreadful error - Jefferies

Jim Reynolds

23 Aug 1996

HEARTS failed to achieve what would have been a marvellous clean sweep for Scottish clubs in Europe this week when they were dumped in the qualifying round of the Cup-winners' Cup at Tynecastle last night against Red Star Belgrade.

Manager Jim Jefferies was obviously disappointed.

He said: "Red Star didn't put us out, we put ourselves out.

"The lads worked very hard.

I couldn't fault them for their effort.

Everything went according to plan, then one lapse in concentration cost us dearly.

You can't give free headers away inside the six-yard box.

When they scored nobody was within three yards of the Red Star player." Jefferies was particularly pleased with the performance of Italian defender Pasquale Bruno, who was given the job of marking 19-year-old star Perica Ognjenovic.

The Hearts manager said: "We nullified their main threat.

The lad is talented, but he met he met his master in Pasquale.

I thought our man was brilliant and that's why they eventually had to take the youngster off.

"I was pleased with the overall performance of the side because at 1-0 I couldn't see them creating anything, then we made that dreadful mistake.

We just couldn't believe it in the dressing room.

We did enough to deserve to go through but we're out." Red Star manager Vladimir Petrovic said: "Of course I am happy with the result but I thought we should have won in Belgrade.

You could say we were in a bit of trouble when we were a goal behind at half-time but that's why I made the substitution.

"Hearts are a very experienced team and gave us a good, hard game, one the spectators enjoyed, and we wish them all the best in their domestic competitions." He was less impressed with Bruno, however.

When asked what he thought of the Hearts man's marking job on his star player, Petrovic said: "Surely he should be there to play football not catch-as-catch-can." The 1-1 scoreline meant that Hearts went out on the away goals rule, and the fact they have lost just one of their last 12 home European ties will be of no consolation this morning.

Now Red Star go into today's draw, leaving Hearts to ponder what could have been.

Taken from the Herald