Kisnorbo refuses to make excuses for loss

PAUL KIDDIE

THE demands of a tough European tie in Bosnia may well have contributed to Hearts’ dismal showing at Parkhead at the weekend - but Jambos star Patrick Kisnorbo today insisted: "We can’t use that as an excuse for losing 5-0."

The Gorgie outfit made the trip to Glasgow just 48 hours after returning from Sarajevo having defeated Zeljeznicar to book a place in the second round of the UEFA Cup.

Before kick-off, confidence had therefore been high in the visitors’ camp that the meeting with the league leaders would help the Hearts players shrug off any lethargy still in their limbs and bring out the best in the team in the SPL’s match of the day.

Unfortunately, the opposite was the case as the Jambos turned in an uncharacteristically poor performance with the only saving grace being that the defeat was not even heavier.

While it is reasonable to assume that the UEFA Cup exploits must have had some sort of adverse effect on Levein’s team, they still should have been capable of much more against a side they defeated the last time the pair met at Tynecastle last season.

Celtic keeper Magnus Hedman didn’t have a save of note to make and Kisnorbo maintains Hearts only have themselves to blame for the manner in which they succumbed, a ninth-minute strike from Liam Miller and a bizarre own goal from midfielder Phil Stamp rocking the Jambos onto their heels before a quarter-of-an-hour had elapsed.

"Losing the early goals left us with a mountain to climb," said Kisnorbo.

"That made it doubly difficult to get back into the game as Celtic were then on a roll.

"Credit to them, they played well and took their opportunities but it was a big disappointment for us and we will have to learn from our mistakes and ensure we don’t make them again."

The 22-year-old was impressive against Zeljeznicar and he followed up his display in the Olympic Stadium in Sarajevo with another battling performance in the face of adversity at Parkhead, the first time he had played at the famous ground.

One of the few Hearts players to earn pass marks on Saturday, the full-back admitted it had been a "dream" of his to run out at Celtic Park in front of 60,000 supporters.

Along with his team-mates Kisnorbo was left hugely disappointed at the outcome but he refuses to entertain playing in Europe as a good enough reason for the woeful 90 minutes which the small band of travelling fans had to endure.

"We may be in Europe but we can’t use that as an excuse," he said. "The best teams in the world can play two or three games in a week and still get results.

"The fact is we came off a good result in midweek in Europe and should have done better on Saturday.

"It can be a mental thing as much as physical and it is something which we will have to look at for the next time we face a similar schedule.

"We didn’t play well and hopefully we can put it down to one of those afternoons, a bad day at the office.

"But what is clear is we have to bounce back quickly and show the supporters the kind of form which helped get us into Europe in the first place.

"We did well last season to get into Europe and it shouldn’t be the case of doing well in one competition and not the other. We want to do well on both fronts and that has to be our aim from now on."

Although it was a day to forget result-wise for Hearts, the actual occasion will be remembered for other reasons by the Australian defender.

"It was great to play at Parkhead against one of the best sides in the world in front of such a big crowd, easily the biggest I have played in front of, " he said.

"I didn’t really notice the fans during the game as I was focused on the match and it was only afterwards I was able to reflect on everything.

"But I certainly got a huge buzz from being up against the likes of players of the calibre of Henrik Larsson and John Hartson and hopefully the experience will help make me a better player."

Taken from the Scotsman