LEVEIN: DEFENCE KEY TO HEARTS SUCCESS

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Former Hearts head coach Craig Levein believes any European success the side achieve this season will come courtesy of their strong defence.

The Jambos were due to fly out to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday for the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Siroki Brijeg holding a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first game, with AEK Athens awaiting them in the third qualifying round.

Current coach Valdas Ivanauskas is still tinkering with his midfield and strike force but the defence, with goalkeeper Craig Gordon behind a back four of Robbie Neilson, Steven Pressley, Christophe Berra and Takis Fyssas have remained consistent in pre-season games and in the first two competitive matches of the new campaign.

Levein, who watched the Edinburgh side begin their Bank of Scotland Premier League game with a 2-1 win over Dunfermline at East End Park on Saturday, said: "Overall, I think Hearts will be happy with that victory because that's two wins in a row now.

"It's early on in the season and few teams come out of the blocks flying right away.

"By the time the AEK Athens game comes round, presuming they get through, they will have played a few more games and will be a little more match fit so that will help.

"And what they have in their favour is their back five - Craig Gordon and the defence.

"That has been pretty steady in the friendly games and in the first two games of the season.

"They have proved that they don't lose many goals and not losing goals in Europe is important.

"So Hearts will rely heavily on the guys at the back."

Levein believes the Tynecastle side will not fire on all cylinders until prolific midfielder Paul Hartley returns from injury - or a replacement is found.

The Scotland international, who scored 18 goals last season, has missed the start of the new campaign due to a troublesome groin problem.

The Edinburgh club have signed only one new player in the close season - striker Mauricio Pinilla, 23, on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon - although Ivanauskas is hopeful of landing defender Hristos Karipidis from Greek side PAOK Salonika.

Levein believes the club must look for another goalscoring midfielder.

He said: "I thought Hearts did all right against Dunfermline, but I think there are a couple of things which have to be borne in mind.

"Their most influential player Paul Hartley was missing so the midfield was not 100% right.

"Hearts do not have another player like him and struggled to get in touch from the midfield to the strikers.

"Paul also scored a terrific amount of goals last season, so they are far less potent without him.

"They have not invested in the transfer market yet for another player like him as a back-up.

"But, if you take away the goals from Hartley and (Rudi) Skacel (who has signed for Southampton), then you must be looking to strengthen in that area."

Taken from sportinglife.com