MY DEFENCE MADE VALDAS OF THINGS

WORRIED boss Valdas Ivanauskas last night admitted Hearts need to cut out the dozy defending to have any chance of Champions League progress.

Jambos seemed to be cruising towards an easy success against an ordinary Preston side after early strikes by Roman Bednar and Saul Mikoliunas.

But sloppy defending allowed the Deepdale men back into contention as Simon Whaley waltzed through to net.

And although Hearts never looked like losing their grip on the match the lapses at the back - also evident on their tour to Austria -are worrying with the Champions League group qualifier looming.

Ivanauskas said: "It's just 11 days until the Champions League game and we lost concentration for the goal. That also happened in Austria so it's a problem we'll need to sort out.

"However we did well and the fitness is getting much better. In the last test the guys were a bit tired but now the fitness is good. Overall the performance was okay."

Defending aside, the trip to Lancashire proved a worthwhile exercise for Jambos who may have found a ready-made replacement for wantaway star Rudi Skacel in outstanding teenager Andrew Driver.

The Tynecastle outfit controlled the game despite being without top-team regulars Paul Hartley, Craig Gordon, Edgaras Jankauskas and Deividas Cesnauskis.

And it was Driver who stole the show with a stunning display on the left flank.

The 18-year-old winger's direct running was a constant menace and Ivanauskas is now tempted to throw him in at the deep end at Murrayfield a week on Wednesday.

The Lithuanian said: "Andrew has done well in France and Austria and has a chance to play in the Champions League game. But he's a young boy and we have to be careful."

Jambos ran out to a great reception from the 2000 or so who had travelled from Edinburgh and the fans didn't stop singing all afternoon.

Their team should have been ahead after six minutes when Bednar burst clear and cut the ball back but Driver shot wide.

However the Hearts faithful only had to wait until the 14th minute to celebrate the opener as Driver and Michal Pospisil combined to put Bednar in. He kept his cool to place a fine effort behind keeper Andy Lonergan.

Just four minutes later it was two with Mikoliunas capitalising on poor defending to lash home a powerful strike from 15 yards.

Hearts took their foot off the gas and were punished just after the half hour when Whaley ran in unchallenged to slot under No.1 Steve Banks.

Ivanauskas made a host of changes after the break but although there were a few scares his troops were always in control.

Pospisil reckons Hearts are now nearing peak fitness ahead of their first tilt at the Champions League.

The striker said: "We have stepped up a level.

"We are getting better as we play more difficult games and closer to a recognised Hearts team. It was a good game played at a good tempo.

"The Champions League is so exciting now it's nearly here and I believe the fans can help us through."

Taken from the Sunday Mail