We've got to fight for the right to party

Paul Kiddie

CRAIG GORDON was happy to play it cool after Hearts’ impressive first-leg victory over Braga - but admits the Jambos will have to fight for the right to party this evening in Portugal.

Mindful of how they upset Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup last season with their exuberant reaction following the famous 1-0 triumph in France, the players tried to keep a level head after the 3-1 win two weeks ago.

Patrick Kisnorbo’s last-minute strike may have handed Craig Levein’s side a vital two-goal cushion and sparked scenes of joy among the Hearts fans but the reaction in the stands at the final whistle was in stark contrast to the players’ more measured response, the team only too aware the tie had only reached the half-way mark. Although well satisfied with a job well done, they were happy to retreat to the dressing-room without too much of a fuss.

Now, as the Gorgie outfit prepares for its biggest European game in years with a £2million jackpot awaiting the victors for qualification of the group stages, Scotland goalkeeper Gordon knows a stern examination lies ahead in the Estadio Municipal.

Temperatures are set to top 80 degrees at kick-off time and the heat is sure to be turned up on Levein’s men.

Last year’s return against Bordeaux at Tynecastle saw the Gorgie outfit bundled out of the competition after a disappointing 2-0 defeat. Should they go one better tonight, though, Gordon reckons the scenes at the final whistle will be well justified.

"I think we annoyed Bordeaux with our manner of celebrations after our win across there," he said. "But the only reason we reacted the way we did was because it was such an unexpected result against a top-quality side.

"After the game at Murrayfield we were conscious the job was only half done. We know we have a very tough task in front of us but if we were to pull off the right result tonight then I am sure the celebrations will no doubt be carried out in appropriate fashion.

"But that’s not even entering our minds at the moment. There is a lot of work to be done before we get to that stage and we just have to focus on the 90 minutes in front of us and then see what happens.

"We did well to get such a good result at Murrayfield as Braga are a talented team. But we have to build on that now and the important thing is we have something to defend. Had we been going into the second leg just 2-1 up it might have been a bit precarious but now we have something to hang onto."

The 21-year-old, who this summer committed himself to the club until 2007, came of age against Bordeaux with a superb man-of-the-match performance on his European debut.

He has since come a long way, having firmly established himself as Hearts’ No. 1 goalkeeper and forced his way onto the international scene with Berti Vogts handing him his second Scotland cap in the recent goalless draw with Slovenia in the opening World Cup Group 5 qualifier at Hampden Park.

The Balerno lad, though, refuses to dwell on past performances, instead keen to meet his next challenge head on.

"You train and play all season to get into European competition and when it comes along you have to try to enjoy it and seize your chance," he said.

"We have given ourselves a chance after the first leg at Murrayfield. We have tried to keep preparations as normal as possible this week and probably the only difference in training is the fact we will have a session in the stadium tonight.

"The pre-match routine tomorrow will be as normal as we can [make it] and we will give it our best shot.

"Our last experience in Europe was Bordeaux and hopefully we can go a little bit further this time. That’s the aim for everyone at the club and it’s a massive incentive to get through to the next phase with a guaranteed four more matches in Europe. That would be a tremendous experience for the club.

"Bordeaux is something we can maybe look back on and take a bit of experience from but that is as far as it will go.

"In years to come when I reflect on the end of my career I’ll probably look back at the game in Bordeaux as the start of everything for me but I am still in the early stages of my career and tonight is another big test for me. Bordeaux is gone now, although obviously not forgotten.

"This is a totally different challenge for me. I was coming into the side back then and trying to establish myself. Although I am still very young this is just my third shot at Europe so in that respect it is another big game for me."

The talented Gordon has helped form a formidable last line of defence in the SPL this season, Hearts having recorded five clean sheets in seven league games so far.

And that sort of solidity looks set to be tested to the full tonight as Jesualdo Ferreira’s outfit tries to claw its way back into the tie. "There is every possibility that I am going to be busy this evening but the challenge is there for me to perform well and help us get what we need out of the game," said Gordon.

"We will be under a lot of pressure during stages of the game but you expect that when you go away from home in Europe. It’s not the same as an SPL game, it’s a different style of play and played at a different tempo so that is something we will have to adapt to.

"The aim has to be to defend well and not give anything silly away. There should be a big crowd and if we can keep it tight early on and put them on the back foot then maybe the fans will turn against Braga and that will work in our favour.

"We have been defending well in the league although we have had a wee problem scoring goals. Keeping the door shut at the back will be a major aspect of tonight’s match but hopefully we can rise to the occasion.

"We have to remember that if we lose one goal, it is not the end of the world."

Taken from the Scotsman