JAMBOS EASE THROUGH BUT VLAD'S SPITTING MAD

HEARTS chief Vladimir Romanov last night watched his players ease through their Champions League qualifier - then warned them to get their act together.

Romanov had travelled to Bosnia to watch the goalless draw with Siroki Brijeg which put his club into a third round qualifying tie with AEK Athens at Murrayfield next week.

Despite being a step closer to the £6million windfall on offer in the biggest club tournament of all Romanov was still unimpressed where his team's performance was concerned.

He stunned everyone after the game when he said: "I'm not satisfied with what went on.

"We did get the result that we needed and I am glad we are into the next round but the game wasn't good. It doesn't look to me as if the team is ready for the new season. I am not thinking about Athens but about the team itself."

Romanov's words will come as a major shock to the players and supporters, coming in the lead-up to Sunday's game with Celtic at Tynecastle.

But he was unrepentant and went on to suggest all was not well behind the scenes.

He said: "I am concerned about our preparation. Maybe we left it too late to start our pre-season."

The criticism will be worrying for head coach Valdas Ivanauskas, with speculation the club famous for periodic bouts of explosive upheaval since Romanov took over is set for further turmoil.

Ivanauskas seemed equally troubled by his team's display and admitted Craig Gordon was to thank for the clean sheet.

He said: "I'm happy with the result and happy we are in the next round because that was our target. But we had the goalkeeper to thank for the result.

"The result is the important thing in Champions League games and we got that. We are just thinking about the game against Celtic on Sunday now."

Before kick-off last night quick thinking from Hearts fitness coach Tom Ritchie foiled an attempted robbery.

A sneak thief tried to steal a kit bag as the team coach was unloaded but Ritchie, a former international sprinter, gave chase to ensure Hearts weren't going to have the jerseys taken from them.

Meanwhile, Paul Hartley admits his chances of facing AEK Athens are slim.

The midfielder has only just returned to training this week after a troublesome groin injury and the 29-year-old may have to watch from the sidelines.

Hartley said: "I trained on Monday and Tuesday and, hopefully, I am not too far away.

"But it is just the match fitness which I am lacking just now. I think it will be a couple of weeks before I will be back.

"You do not want to rush these things, make yourself worse and put yourself back a few months.

"It is just frustrating sitting and watching the games just now but the lads have been fantastic."

Taken from the Daily Record