Jambos snap up tickets for Murrayfield clash

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS look set to attract a crowd of more than 15,000 for tonight's UEFA Cup first round, first leg clash with Portuguese side Braga.

Although just 6,000 tickets had been sold for the 67,500-capacity stadium by the weekend, business has been brisk at Tynecastle since the league visit of Rangers on Sunday.

With nearly 13,500 briefs having been snapped up and with hundreds of fans expected to wait until the last minute before deciding to go, the final attendance looks set to top the 15,000 mark.

Tickets are on sale at Tynecastle until 5pm, with the Murrayfield ticket office selling them until kick-off (7.45pm). There will also be cash turnstiles open for most areas of the ground.

And Hearts captain Steven Pressley insists he is confident the club’s supporters will create an intimidating atmosphere in the UEFA Cup clash.

With the ground set to be far from full, concerns have been raised over the atmosphere. However, Scotland internationalist Pressley believes the supporters will turn up the heat regardless of the surroundings.

He said "We don’t know that there might not be any atmosphere, until we actually play. I hope Hearts fans turn out in their numbers because they followed us home and away last season. If we can go about our business in the right manner I have no doubt that will lift the crowd.

"I have no fears about our supporters. I think they will turn out in large numbers and they will generate a terrific atmosphere."

Taken from the Scotsman