Pavon not sure just what Levein has up his sleeve

PAUL KIDDIE

BORDEAUX manager Michel Pavon has admitted he has no idea what team Hearts boss Craig Levein will field in tonight’s UEFA Cup showdown at Tynecastle.

The Jambos chief sprang a major surprise with his "flexible" 3-6-1 formation in the first leg in France, the tactical masterstroke working wonders with Mark de Vries grabbing a late winner.

Levein was playing his cards close to his chest in the build-up, although he did concede there was no need for all-out attack given the Jambos’ surprise position of being in the driving seat going into this evening’s crunch clash.

Despite having come off second best in the battle of the bosses three weeks ago, former Bordeaux skipper Pavon revealed he thought it would be a waste of time to spy on Hearts prior to tonight’s game.

"I haven’t seen them myself but before the first leg in Bordeaux we had them watched three times," he said. "And then the Hearts team in France was completely different to the ones we had seen.

"I therefore didn’t feel it necessary to come and see them again as it could all be so different again. We know we need two goals to win the match and realise it is going to be difficult.

"I am not sure how the game will unfold. Hearts have the advantage having won the first leg in Bordeaux but it is up to them whether they will want to defend or not. Mark de Vries is very strong and powerful but I don’t know what their line-up will be."

Pavon insisted his team is technically superior to the Jambos and he refused to read too much into the absence through injury of the hosts’ inspirational skipper Steven Pressley, the Scotland defender having limped out of the derby triumph over Hibs on Sunday with a thigh strain.

"Hearts’ mental side of things may be to their advantage but I feel my players are more technically gifted," he said.

"We know Steven Pressley is not playing but one player does not make a team. In Bordeaux Hearts had ten other good players on the park and whoever comes in for Pressley will probably do well.

"Hearts are already one goal up so it’s up to them to decide whether to defend or not but I think they may try and go for another goal.

"Do we believe we can go through? Of course. Why else would we bother to come here?"

Taken from the Scotsman