Levein calls for cautious approach

STUART BATHGATE

THERE WILL be no typecasting at Tynecastle tonight. Quite the opposite, in fact. Hearts, normally fairly adventurous on their own patch, will be "cautious", according to Craig Levein, while Girondins de Bordeaux will have to forsake their customary counter-attacking style in favour of something more assertive.

The role reversal for this second leg of the teams’ UEFA Cup second-round match stems from the remarkable result in France three weeks ago, when a Mark de Vries goal gave Hearts an away win. Levein admitted after that game that, having expected to lose 1-0, he would have to rethink his tactics for the return. Since then, injuries have forced him to rethink his team selection too.

Steven Pressley is definitely out, and will be missing for a couple of weeks with the thigh injury which forced him off during the first half of Sunday’s Edinburgh derby. Scott Severin is not yet fully fit after an ankle knock, and is likely to start the match on the bench.

As the team captain and the most vocal member of the side, Pressley will be missed as much for his organisational instincts as for his individual contribution. Levein, however, has confidence in those who will deputise for him.

"We’ll miss Elvis, I wouldn’t pretend for a moment we won’t, but we’re not reliant solely on one player," the coach said yesterday. "The other players, like Andy Webster and Kevin McKenna, are older and more experienced, and Robbie Neilson has improved beyond all recognition this season.

"Andy came off the bench on Sunday and coped admirably. He’s quite vocal on the park, and Alan Maybury is as well."

Maybury will retain the captain’s armband which he took over from Pressley on Sunday, and could slot into a back four with the other three mentioned by Levein.

Patrick Kisnorbo will play either alongside or just in front of the other two centre-backs, and just behind Neil MacFarlane as Levein attempts to stifle the French in midfield. With Jean-Louis Valois and De Vries also certain to start, the main doubt centres on whether Phil Stamp, returning from domestic suspension, will start off wide right or more centrally.

If the former, Dennis Wyness could be used, as he was at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, as the link between the midfield and De Vries. If Stamp plays in the middle, he will be expected to make that link himself, with Paul Hartley bookending the midfield along with Valois.

The return of Stamp is at least partial compensation for the loss of Pressley. The Englishman has the talent as well as the physicality to become the key player in the game, and Levein is delighted to have him in the squad again.

"Having Phil Stamp back is almost like having a fresh player. To have his energy, enthusiasm and drive is obviously a big plus for us."

Such enthusiasm will surely be shown by the whole team, and Levein is aware that, no matter how calmly he tells them to play, a full house in the compact ground can have a big effect on the game.

"We’re going to be cautious, but at the same time if we can get a goal that will give us some momentum. It is a little bit unusual to be playing at Tynecastle and not go into all-out attack.

"The important thing is there will be 17,000 or 18,000 Hearts fans here, and no matter the tactics, the players’ enthusiasm will be the over-riding thing, and that will produce a willingness to attack.

"To get through would be a massive achievement. We know how good a side they are. Since Michel Pavon took over we’re the only team to have beaten them, and they’ve played some notable teams in that period.

"Nobody expected us to win in Bordeaux, and from the club’s point of view it was a great result. But I don’t think anybody in this country realises how good Bordeaux are."

Pavon’s side were unfortunate not to get a goal in France, and there is a strong possibility they will score tonight. Indeed, a 2-1 away win is an entirely plausible scoreline, and one which, of course, would eliminate Hearts from the competition on the away goals rule.

Levein is desperate to ensure that that does not happen, not only so his own club can continue their run, but also so Scottish football can recover a little bit more of the respect which was once its due.

"It’s vital that the SPL as a league should be above ridicule at least," he said. "We have to put the league on a level so that when the draw’s being made some teams will say they don’t want a Scottish team."

In the first round, Zeljeznicar were happy to have drawn Levein’s side, only to learn the hard way. Hearts themselves, though, had to grow up quickly in the second, away leg, as they went about defending a 2-0 lead a little cavalierly.

"We learned fast in Bosnia," Maybury recalled. "We tried to get a quick goal to kill them off, and then we were under pressure for the first 20 minutes."

They survived that match, however, and the Irishman believes they will still be alive in the competition after tonight. "Everyone’s confident," he continued. "It’s been a good couple of weeks for us and we’re just hoping it can keep going. If we’re in Europe after Christmas it will be a massive bonus."

It will indeed, not least financially, though everyone at the club knows how hard they will need to fight this evening to get into next month’s third-round draw.

But Hearts surpassed many people’s expectations, their own included, in France. There is no reason to believe that such a performance has to be regarded as a one-off.

Taken from the Scotsman