| Report Index--> 2006-07--> All for 20060729 | ||||
| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 29 Jul 2006 Dunfermline Athletic 1 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
| <-Srce | <-Type | Herald ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
| Valdas Ivanauskas | <-auth | James Porteous | auth-> | Brian Winter |
| [S Simmons 62] | Andrew Tod | |||
| 60 | of 072 | Roman Bednar 15 ;Michal Pospisil 77 | L SPL | A |
Neilson confesses Europe is occupying thoughtsJAMES PORTEOUS July 31 2006 Hearts have played just half a Champions League qualifying tie in their history, but Robbie Neilson admits it's already difficult to go back to the usual Premierleague fare. With a three-goal lead in hand following the first leg against Bosnians Siroki Brijeg, Hearts should cruise into the third qualifying round against Greek side AEK with a place in the group stages at stake. Having avoided teams such as AC Milan, Liverpool and Valencia to draw the Greeks, Neilson admits the squad are already thinking about an extended stay in Europe. AEK, who have beaten Rangers and Hibs before, are confident of making it three wins out of three against Scottish opposition. In Hearts' favour is the fact that the first leg at Murrayfield will be the Greeks' first game of the season, under a new manager. "It's a good draw, we could have got harder teams," said Neilson after Saturday's 2-1 win over Dunfermline. "We know we're the underdogs and that could suit us. Hopefully they'll underestimate us and the boys are very confident." Neilson says the team have had to adjust to combining Europe with league duty. "We don't do as much training, it's very important to look after ourselves. We don't work as hard because we have to prepare for games," he added. "Rangers and Celtic have had to cope with it – it is difficult to come away from Europe and come down to the SPL, you have to be highly motivated. "You have to keep every game as important as the next one. Over the next 10 days, we've got a big game in Bosnia, then we play Celtic, then AEK." Hearts struggled to break down Dunfermline and Neilson believes that is going to be the norm at away grounds. "They had 11 men behind the ball and we're going to have to face that a lot. We'll be seen as a big scalp, where last season we maybe caught people cold." Greg Shields, the Dunfermline defender, said the squad were furious that Hearts' winning goal was awarded. He claimed Christophe Berra, who may have been offside, got the final touch. "If anyone was playing him onside it was me," said Shields. "I didn't think Michal Pospisil's effort was going in then I saw this big toe come out of nowhere." Shields also claimed Hearts had targeted Andy Tod, who was sent off. "I think they knew big Tod was on a yellow card."  Taken from the Herald |
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| <-Page | <-Team | Sat 29 Jul 2006 Dunfermline Athletic 1 Hearts 2 | Team-> | Page-> |
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