Hearts due limelight - Preston

GRAEME CROSER

LIVINGSTON boss Allan Preston today insisted nothing should be allowed to overshadow Hearts’ historic qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Cup.

The impending departure of Tynecastle chief executive Chris Robinson has hogged the headlines over the past few days while Rangers’ victory over Maritimo last night has shunted Hearts’ aggregate win against Braga in the same competition into second place in many quarters.

Rangers needed penalties to defeat Maritimo at Ibrox last night but Mark de Vries’ double in Portugal ensured a 5-3 win for the Jambos over two legs - a feat Preston believes should not be underestimated. The Almondvale chief believes Levein has done a remarkable job in continually improving Hearts in the face of off-field turmoil and believes it’s time the head coach received the credit he deserves.

He said: "I’m delighted for Craig and the team. People have been asking have Hearts improved - well, I think last night proves they have.

"I listened to the game on the radio and it sounded like they deserved to win. To go to Portugal and score twice like that is a great achievement.

"Rangers were playing against a side of a similar standard from the same league yet they struggled to go through. Rangers went over there and got beat by Maritimo, and scraped through last night yet they get all the coverage - I think it’s ridiculous.

"Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great for Scottish football that both sides are through but Hearts deserve special praise for their achievement with fewer resources.

"It seems that everything Craig does is overshadowed by the off-field politics at the club and it’s a shame to see the same happen today with the Rangers result. For me, Hearts’ achievement is more impressive."

Livingston take on the Jambos at Tynecastle on Sunday and Preston hopes there is some benefit for the Lions from the Gorgie side’s Euro exertions.

He continued: "I’m delighted for Hearts but I hope they’re tired, that their flight was delayed and that Craig wraps Mark De Vries in cotton wool after his comeback from injury!

"Seriously, though, they’ll be on a high and rightly so. We just need to go there and dig in."

Preston won’t be able to call on the services of former Hearts man Steven Boyack who has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a suspected chipped bone in his hip.

Fellow midfielder Richard Brittain will also miss out but it will be next week before the full extent of the ankle and knee ligament damage he sustained in Tuesday’s reserve match with Motherwell is ascertained.

Taken from the Scotsman