Maybury: Hearts can be quietly confident

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS star Alan Maybury has shrugged off the prospect of taking on Braga in front of a deserted Murrayfield tonight, the Irishman insisting it won’t be a new experience for the Jambos.

With the 67,500-capacity stadium set to be less than a third full, Hearts fans will be surrounded by a sea of empty seats as Craig Levein’s side kicks off its latest European adventure.

But having faced Dundee in a closed-door match at the home of Scottish rugby last year, Maybury insists his team-mates are well prepared for what promises to be an eerie atmosphere.

"We’re not sure what to expect or how many people will turn out to support us this evening," he said.

"But we played a closed-door game against Dundee at Murrayfield last year so we’ll be used to that kind of atmosphere.

"Hopefully the fans will turn out in their numbers. This game is nothing to do with Tynecastle being sold. We are playing at Murrayfield because UEFA have said that Tynecastle doesn’t meet their standards.

"We knew that last year and now we have to play European games at Murrayfield regardless of whether we sell Tynecastle or not."

Having played for Leeds United in the Champions League, the Dubliner is one of the Jambos’ more experienced campaigners.

His only previous experience of Portuguese opposition came as an unused substitute for the Elland Road outfit against Maritimo, Rangers’ UEFA Cup opponents this evening.

And while confessing to knowing little of Braga, Maybury is sure they will provide a stern test.

"We have the first leg at home and we’ll try to be as positive as we can," he said. "I was on the bench when Leeds played Maritimo a few years ago. Portuguese sides are always technically very good and like to pass the ball around.

"They are usually quick as well so out of the teams we could have got, I think they are one of the tougher sides. Personally, I’d have liked to have gone back to Dublin to play Shelbourne but it wasn’t to be."

Hearts kicked-off a hectic period of important matches with a morale-boosting draw at home to Rangers on Sunday, Paul Hartley scorning a glorious chance to give the home side an even bigger lift when he headed over from close range in the closing minutes.

The performance was a vast improvement on the previous league outing at Motherwell and Maybury is hoping the feel-good factor continues this evening.

"The work rate had dropped off in our previous game at Motherwell but we made life difficult for Rangers, contested every ball and created a few chances," he said.

"We got a good result and hopefully we can build on the confidence we have taken from that in the game tonight.

"The matches are coming thick and fast for us now, everyone has to look after themselves but it’s good we have started off a big couple of weeks with a good draw against Rangers."

Having been edged out of last year’s competition by cracks Bordeaux, despite stunning the hosts in the first leg in France, it is an older and wiser Hearts team which will take to the field against the Portuguese.

"Against Bordeaux last season nobody gave us much of a chance in France," he said.

"We got a great result and that was one of the highlights of my career so far. The second leg was obviously disappointing but they scored a wonder a goal which killed off any advantage we had and we ended up chasing the game.

"We ended up losing but we can all draw on the experience and tonight’s game is one we should all be looking forward to."

Maybury has won his battle to shake off a shin injury following a reckless challenge from Maurice Ross on Sunday, the Rangers star fortunate to escape with just a caution from referee Dougie McDonald.

"I took a sore one but I’ll be fine," said the Republic of Ireland internationalist, who could be used as an emrgency striker at some stage tonight with Levein’s forward options severely limited after Graham Weir went down with the mumps.

"I was able to play on after it so hopefully everything is okay. These things happen in football and I have dished out a few in the past myself."

Taken from the Scotsman