WE'RE SAFE

HEARTS set up a clash with AEK Athens after surviving asmash-and-grab acton and OFF the pitch last night.

The Jambos held Siroki Brijeg to a 0-0 draw after fitness coach Tom Ritchie foiled a sneak thief who tried to steal a kit bag while the team coach was unloaded before kick-off. Ritchie, a former international sprinter, gave chase to prove it wasn't a night for Hearts to sell the jerseys or have them taken from them.

Keeper Craig Gordon was the top performer with a string of quality saves in a match Hearts survived by showing the depth of their maturity in not losing an away goal and keeping their 3-0 lead from the first leg intact.

But the joy of Hearts' arrival in the third qualifying round of the Champions League was marred by yet more travel chaos. They were originally scheduled to arrive home at 1am but were then told they couldn't fly out of Mostar Airport for safety reasons.

Their charter flight was switched to Dubrovnik and arrival time in Edinburgh was then set at 5.30am.

But hours before kick-off the club was told Dubrovnik couldn't handle their flight and the party, with supporters and press in tow, was redirected to Split.

This meant a three-hour road journey and an even later arrival time in the capital for the team.

Coach Valdas Ivanauskas made light of the travel chaos by saying the players would have found sleep difficult after a European tie but hamstrings must have tightened considerably after a lengthy trip by coach trip and a three-hour flight after that.

Sunday's clash with champions Celtic at Tynecastle will now be between two travel-weary sides.

Taken from the Daily Record