Rival fears a Rousset repeat

21 Aug 1996

GOALKEEPER Gilles Rousset was tipped yesterday as the man who can lead Hearts to European victory against Red Star Belgrade tomorrow - by no less a judge than rival manager Vladimir Petrovic.

The 6ft 5in Frenchman was Man of the Match in the first leg in Yugoslavia as Hearts fought their way to a no scoring draw.

Petrovic, who flies into Edinburgh with his squad later today, fears a repeat of the Rousset heroics will mean the end of his team's European dream.

"On what we saw in the first leg, Rousset must be the best goalkeeper in Europe," said former Arsenal player Petrovic.

"He was fantastic, and Hearts will surely believe they can beat us if he plays like that on Thursday.

I wasn't happy to draw in Belgrade, but this tie is not finished yet.

"Hearts played defensively against us that night, but this time we will play the same way as we did then - on the attack.

"I am confident we can get the result to take us through," added Petrovic, who was also impressed by Neil Pointon, Paul Ritchie, Colin Cameron, and David McPherson in Belgrade.

Peterovic, therefore, will not be too happy to hear that Hearts captain McPherson appears to be winning his fight for fitness.

McPherson has been out with pleurisy, but trained yesterday and could yet defy the odds and play.

The news on Hearts other casualties is mixed, with Pasquale Bruno and Neil McCann fit, Jeremy Goss improving by the day, and Cameron and Pointon's participation still in the balance.

The Yugoslavs have been in good form since the first leg a fortnight ago.

They have won both their league games, beating Rad 2-1 and Hajduk Kula 1-0.

Although their young side is still living in the shadows of the Red Star team that won the Champions' Cup five years ago, the Class of '96 is learning fast.

So fast, in fact, that Tynecastle manager Jim Jefferies says it will rate as Hearts best-ever night in Europe if they come through tomorrow.

The Edinburgh team go into the match with a good-luck message from former player Allan Johnston, who scored for his new club, Rennes, in last weekend's 3-1 win over Nice.

"I think Hearts will do it," Johnston said from his base in France.

"They have so many good players, and it was a great result in the first leg.

Taken from the Herald