Jambos urged to play way into history

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS will fly the flag for Scotland in Europe tonight, with boss John Robertson urging his men to play their way into the history books at Murrayfield.

Following Rangers’ shock exit from the UEFA Cup at Ibrox last night, the Jambos are our sole remaining representatives in the competition and take on Hungarian champions Ferencvaros with a place in the last 32 of the competition at stake.

Hearts must win this evening and hope Basel fail to beat Feyenoord in the other Group A match in Switzerland to ensure European football beyond Christmas for the first time for 15 years.

The last occasion the Gorgie outfit was in Europe into the New Year was when their epic run in the UEFA Cup in 1989 was only halted in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich.

Robertson starred in that side and today he urged the current crop of players to follow in his footsteps and carve their own niche in the Gorgie history books.

"The best run the club has had was to the quarter-finals against Bayern," he said. "I think if we were to qualify for the last 32 it would be only slightly behind that.

"This would be a big, big significant part of the club’s history to qualify. We have knocked out Braga and played four quality teams.

"To come through those five matches and still be in the tournament would be well up there."

He added: "There have been many big games in the past and Hearts fans can recall them but we need to concentrate on tonight’s tie.

"We have to embrace and seize the moment. This is a chance for somebody to write themselves into the history books."

Taken from the Scotsman