Hearts coach Ivanauskas is cool on Euro crunch

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS is taking inspiration for Hearts' final Champions League push from events in Lithuania 18 months ago.

As the Jam Tarts prepare to entertain Celtic tomorrow in a vital fixture in the battle for second place, their interim head coach is mindful of his experiences in November 2004 when he was in charge at FBK Kaunas.

His side needed to win the remaining five matches of the Lithuanian A Lyga to secure the championship.

Ivanauskas' expertise eventually saw his side triumph on a nerve-shredding final day as they travelled to second-placed Ekranas, who went into the match level on points at the top with Kaunas, and won.

His ability to cope with situations of such high intensity has convinced Ivanauskas that he will secure a place for Hearts in next season's Champions League qualifying rounds after the final three matches of the SPL season.

"This is a lot of pressure with Hearts but I experienced the same situation back home," said the Lithuanian.

"We had lost to Ekranas the previous month and that left us needing five victories to win the championship, which ended in November. That included going to Ekranas again on the last day.

"We won the first four and then beat Ekranas 2-0 to take the title, so I have had this kind of pressure before - but it is nice pressure. It's also a good thing for the players to have if they understand that they can make their entire season worthwhile by winning these final games.

"I remember how worthwhile it was when we beat Ekranas. It was the last game, and afterwards there were great celebrations."

Kaunas are Lithuania's most reputable club and are also heavily financed by Vladimir Romanov, the majority shareholder at Tynecastle, but Ivanauskas recognises that the stakes are even higher for him now as he strives for the Champions League with Hearts.

The Edinburgh club side sit four points ahead of third-placed Rangers, and victory over the SPL champions tomorrow would bring top-level European competition within smelling distance.

"The mood in the camp is good," continued Ivanauskas. "I think we owe Celtic a defeat. We lost last time against them but I think that game was our best away performance this season. We can win against Celtic tomorrow."

Hearts' exasperation at being denied a penalty in their last confrontation with Celtic earlier this month is still fresh in the mind. Ivanauskas was sent to the stand at Celtic Park for his reaction when Bobo Balde appeared to down Roman Bednar in the penalty area near the end of the 1-0 defeat but no award was forthcoming from referee Dougie McDonald, pictured below.

After his vociferous complaints and the kicking of a wall in front of the main stand were noted by the fourth official, Ivanauskas was ordered to leave his technical area by McDonald.

"It still makes me angry but we have three games left until the end of the season," he said. "If this was the middle of the season it wouldn't have had such a big bearing.

"You can't play at a very high level all season as that is not normal. Now we have three games and it's down to us. We have had so many discussions about referees. I have been happy with the referees in our last two games, and if we get the same kind of referee tomorrow it won't be a problem. Our only problem will be ourselves."

Ivanauskas has had to ignore speculation on team selection issues at Tynecastle virtually since he took over from Graham Rix, and this week has seen suspicions rise further after Rudi Skacel, Julien Brellier, Edgaras Jankauskas and Andy Webster were all left out of the starting line-up for last weekend's Capital derby.

But, with captain Steven Pressley hopeful of taking his place in defence tomorrow alongside the recovering Takis Fyssas, the Lithuanian is concerned only with the 11 players who will take the field.

"Steven has a big-game mentality and we missed him at Easter Road last week," he said.

"He is our leader on the pitch and we hope he is ready.

"I trust my players and that is all that matters. It's not about Ivanauskas or Romanov or any other person. Only the players can take the prize of the Champions League place."

Taken from the Scotsman