Gordon shuts out Siroki as Hearts stroll through

SIROKI BRIJEG 0
HEARTS 0

IN A town apparently famed for its high percentage of Mercedes Benz car owners, Hearts last night stamped their own mark of quality, with the inscription left by outstanding goalkeeper Craig Gordon proving the most vivid. The goalless draw achieved with maximum efficiency ensures them a berth in the next round of a suddenly very appetising Champions League qualifying project.

The most taxing part of this trip began directly after the final whistle, with the players' countdown to this Sunday's clash with Celtic including a three-hour coach trip to Split airport. The Champions League is not always glamorous but the stardust will gather more abundantly next week, when AEK Athens are the visitors to Murrayfield.

With the hard work having been accomplished in Edinburgh last week Hearts could afford to play within themselves while admiring the view of the Tsch Cabulia mountains in which Siroki Brijeg is settled. The town is clearly well-heeled and Hearts last night found gold hidden in these hills.

There was a trace of aluminium present as well. Alnija Brusokiene, the glamorous director of Vladimir Romanov's Bosnian-based aluminium company, was a guest at the match. The pair were treated like royalty prior to kick-off as they toured the Pecara stadium pursued by photographers. Romanov paced out the pitch prior to kick-off as he continues to obsess over dimensions in view of Tynecastle's problems in complying with UEFA regulations.

It turned into a stroll for his side, too. Hearts were successful in drawing the sting from their opponents, and were able to withdraw Robbie Neilson and Neil McCann after just an hour with a view to Sunday's league fixture against the Premierleague champions. Ibrahim Tall and Saulius Mikoliunas were the replacements, with Mirsad Beslija perhaps given notice of his diminished status at Tynecastle when he made a cursory six-minute appearance at the end.

Beslija is from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts head coach, flagged up the fact that this would be a home fixture for the unsettled winger. It can only be a matter of time before the record signing leaves for pastures new. This Hearts team cannot permit passengers, not when such exciting times lie ahead.

One can only hope he enjoyed meeting up with old friends since his trip was hardly worthwhile otherwise. He received a spiky reception from those in the stands, something that might be attributed to the complex ethnic issues still apparent in this Croatian-dominated region. Upon the side of the dominant Cigansko Bdno mountain a familiarly patterned Croatian flag could be spied, while many in the crowd sported Croatian football shirts with the name "Prso" arced across the shoulders.

Like nightfall in these parts, Hearts were quick and concise. They never allowed NK a glimpse of light in what proved a forlorn effort by their hosts to make this Hearts expedition remarkable for something other than the shell-pocked remains of buildings which still bear evidence of a recent war. The players toured the Mostar old town yesterday morning and went to work last night in highly professional fashion.

An armour-plated truck stood outside the stadium and a battalion of black-clad security men patrolled the stadium, and this was as dramatic as it got, with NK unable to enact what would have been a miracle comeback. They were not even able to establish a foundation on which to construct one. Gordon's fine point-blank save from Celson five minutes after half-time saw the hope completely erode from the home fans. One wonders if there was any present to begin with.

Boris Pandza, the Herzegovinan side's central defender, appeared to seek Steven Pressley's agreement to swap shirts before the match, employing sign language which involved a lot of pointing at his and the Hearts skipper's tops.

The sole evidence of the high-tempo start anticipated from NK by Ivanauskas was a shot on the quarter-hour mark from Mislav Karoglan that was tipped wide by Gordon. Other than that, Hearts controlled the opening stages and might have been ahead earlier had the referee awarded a goal when Neil McCann's corner was palmed into his own net by Vladimir Vasilj. Perhaps Mr Kassai could not believe that a top-class keeper - Vasilj is Bosnia-Herzegovina's No 1 - could possibly achieve this without some illegal harassment from an opponent, but there appeared very little amiss as the ball nestled in the net.

A goal then for Hearts would have made the tie a redundant one after just 100 or so minutes. Perhaps for the benefit of those 6,000 or so present in the three-sided stadium, the referee signalled a free-kick. Perhaps significant was the absence of protests from Hearts players supremely focused on the mission ahead.

The preserved goal-less scoreline meant some semblance of competitive spirit could be identified. NK engaged with the already strenuous task of pulling back three goals. To their credit they kept on seeking a way back into the tie, and their fans, including the boisterous and apparently renowned Skripari, could not be faulted for their backing. In another corner gathered the Hearts followers, the sun dipping behind their shoulders.

They remained up until past dawn this morning as the complicated return journey was undertaken, but the sleepless hours will have been made bearable by the prospect that now flares. Hearts, 500-1 to win the Premierleague title last season, are two games away from a place in the Champions League group stage. The aim last night was to close out the tie and this they did. The platform to do this was built during a first half that contained sporadic moments of alarm.

Karoglan was NK's most potent weapon, and the midfielder thrashed in a free-kick that was again well saved by Gordon. When NK made a hash of a chance just a minute before half-time - first Ronielle failed to connect with a cross and then the supporting Josip Papic cleared the bar having collected the loose ball - the thought that their efforts had now been rendered futile struck like a chime from a Mostar mosque.

Siroki Brijeg: Vasilj, Anic, Silic, Wagner, Papic (Studenovic 88), Pandza, Landeka, Ronielle, Kovacic (Erceg 69), Karoglan, Celson (Carvalho 76). Subs not used: Basic, Doci, Kozul, Kvesic.

Hearts: Gordon; Neilson (Tall 60), Pressley, Berra, Fyssas; Cesnauskis (Beslija 85), Brellier, Aguiar, McCann (Mikoliunas 61); Pospisil, Bednar. Subs not used: Banks, Makela, Wallace, Mole.

Taken from the Scotsman