HEARTS PUT US TO BED

SIROKI BRIJEG coach Ivica Barbaric last night conceded his club's Champions League tie to Hearts.

He admitted the Bosnians have no chance of overhauling a 3-0 deficit in their own country.

But he also blamed the referee at Murrayfield for giving Hearts a helping hand they didn't need into the third qualifying round.

After watching his side lose to an own goal and two late efforts from Ibrahim Tall and Roman Bednar, Barbaric said: "I congratulate Hearts on their victory and I admit they were better than us and stronger than we were.

"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 Robbie Neilson had stepped on to the pitch when he propelled the ball into the penalty area for an opener that helped allow Hearts to dream of meeting the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool when the draw is made tomorrow.

Barbaric said: "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."

Tynecastle coach Valdas Ivanauskas refused to accept next week's tie in Mostar is a foregone conclusion.

The Lithuanian said: "The result is okay but it is not as easy as that.

"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."

Taken from the Daily Record