Braga countdown no excuse, says Webster

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS may be approaching their biggest game in Europe for years against Braga on Thursday - but Andy Webster insists that’s no excuse for the drop in standards against Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Jambos struggled to break down the well-organised SPL basement outfit at the weekend, Paul Hartley’s first-half goal enough to separate the sides after a keenly-contested 90 minutes at Tynecastle.

The home side had gone into the match with fans hoping for a comfortable victory over the team rooted to the foot of the table.

However, John Robertson’s Highlanders gave a tremendous account of themselves and were unfortunate not to take something from the game, Ross Tokely and Barry Wilson missing excellent opportunities in the second half.

It was an usually subdued performance from the home side, with many observers assuming the players’ focus was perhaps not entirely on the game, with thoughts maybe already straying towards the European showdown in Portugal.

Webster will hear none of that, however, insisting they cannot use the forthcoming UEFA Cup tie as a reason for misfiring on Saturday. "We can’t use Braga as an excuse," said the Scotland centre-half. "That wasn’t a concern for us before the game and the only focus for the team was getting the three points.

"For whatever reason we started quite slackly throughout the team and I think that encouraged Inverness to come on top of us.

"I thought the second half we were a bit more solid but there really weren’t that many chances at either end.

"The gaffer had said beforehand that Saturday was all about winning and although we turned in a poor display, that is what we did.

"That was about all we could take from the game but at the end of the day, a win is a win."

Levein has promised it will be a much-improved performance from his men in the Estadio Municipal.

However, with the Portuguese having to claw back a 3-1 deficit after goals from Webster, Paul Hartley and Patrick Kisnorbo saw the Jambos emerge triumphant from the historic first leg at Murrayfield, most of this week’s work on the training ground will centre around keeping things watertight at the back.

Webster jokingly admitted the team were planning to head out early to "start digging in the trenches" but with Levein’s striking options once again set to be limited through injury, Hearts will have to produce one of the their best defensive performances to secure a place in the lucrative group stages of the competition.

Saturday’s clean sheet against the Caley Jags, though, was the Jambos’ fifth shut out in seven league outings this season, so things are looking pretty solid in that department.

"As a defender it is always good to get a clean sheet but it’s not just about the goalkeeper and the back four," said Webster.

"It is down to everyone throughout the team, from the defence through to the midfielders and forwards.

"Braga will be a tough test for us but it’s a game we are looking forward to. They are a very good technical side, pass the ball very well and very rarely do they play the long ball.

"It will obviously be quite a different game to the one at Murrayfield. They will need to come out and attack, while I am sure it will have to be a more defensive display by us.

"We are obviously looking to go through but will have to change our game plan a bit. But the boss showed last season in Bordeaux that he is tactically very aware and he will change things again to suit

"It is going to be extremely difficult but I am confident we can get through to the next stage."

Taken from the Scotsman