Hearts are three goals to the good, but skipper and coach warn 'the job isn't done yet'

By Ian Clarkson 27-07-06

Siroki Brijeg coach Ivica Barbaric admitted that Hearts are as good as through to the third qualifying round after a comprehensive defeat at Murrrayfield, conceding the Bosnians have no chance of recovering a 3-0 deficit in their own country.

Hearts made a winning debut in the Champions League thanks to an own goal and fine finishes by Ibrahim Tall and Roman Bednar against Siroki Brijeg. Branimir Anic headed in off the post under pressure from Stephen Pressley following a Robbie Neilson long throw before Tall fired in from four yards after a low Michal Pospisil cross.

Then Bednar pounced on a poor back pass to slot home and give the Bosnians an uphill battle in the second leg. However, Barbaric claimed the Edinburgh club were given a helping had into the third qualifying round by referee Espen Berntsen.

"I congratulate Hearts on their victory and I admit they were better than us and stronger than we were," he said. "But the referee made a lot of mistakes, particularly when he allowed Hearts to take an illegal throw-in for their first goal."

The Bosnian coach's complaint was that Robbie Neilson had stepped on to the pitch to throw the ball into the penalty area for the breakthrough goal that will allow Hearts the opportunity of meeting the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool when the draw is made tomorrow. Barbaric added: "I don't want to go on about this because I know we have not got any hope but I repeat, Hearts are too strong to require any extra assistance."

Neilson hit back at Barbaric's claims and dismissed them as trivial. He said: "I think he's being a bit trivial saying that but if I did then I did, but I wasn't aware of it. But it's still going to be very difficult to win the tie.

"We played Zeljeznicar a couple of seasons ago and they didn't play too well over here but they were a different team on their own ground in Bosnia. But we've got three goals so that gives us a good chance."

However, Tynecastle coach Valdas Ivanauskas refused to accept that next week's tie in Mostar is a foregone conclusion."The result is okay but it is not as easy as that," said the Lithuanian. "I had to tell the players to stay calm when they came in at half time and the game was still goalless, so now I am telling them to be careful in the second leg.

"I'm not saying that I think my team is capable of losing four goals but I am warning them of the need to be careful when they go to Bosnia."

Hearts skipper Stephen Pressley was in jubilant mood although he too urged a note of caution. "Of course we will have one eye on the next round but the job isn't done yet," said Pressley.

"But Friday is when the mouth-watering draw for the third qualifier is made and we'll all watch with great anticipation. All ties are possible and there's no tie that I don't believe we could win. And it would be great if we could progress to the group stages because financially, it would be fantastic for this club. The supporters made a great atmosphere at Murrayfield and if we go through to the next round and get a big tie then we could attract a phenomenal crowd."