'Job done' by Hearts - but they will have to raise their game when they take on AEK

By Dave Smith 03-08-06

Hearts set up a final Champions League qualifying tie with AEK Athens after their goalless draw against Siroki Brijeg - but whilst assistant manager John McGlynn described it has a 'professional job' well done, majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov was not quite so impressed.

Defending a 3-0 lead from the first leg, Hearts were rarely troubled by the home side and the final outcome was never really in doubt. Siroki keeper Vladimir Vasilj punched a Neil McCann corner into his own net, but his blushes were spared when referee Viktor Kassai blew for a foul.

Hearts were not stretched at all and they can expect a different contents when they meet AEK Athens in the last stage of the qualification campaign. Romanov though was not happy with his side's performance and said: "I'm not really satisfied. They got the result, but the game was not very good. I didn't like the game itself and I don't think the team is ready yet for the season."

He added: "I'm not thinking about Athens, I'm thinking about the team itself and its state of preparation. Maybe we started preparations a little bit late."

Hearts assistant boss McGlynn, however, WAS satisfied with the draw that completed a straightforward Champions League win. "It was a professional job," he said. "To come away from home and get a 0-0 always deserves credit.

"Craig Gordon made a couple of good saves but that's what he's there for and we were always comfortable. AEK Athens will be tough but it's a game we are all looking forward to."

The Greek side are in Edinburgh next week but Tynecastle manager Valdas Ivanauskas was not looking beyond Sunday's SPL clash with Celtic. And he suggested that some of his players may also have had their minds on domestic matters.

"Okay, maybe we were thinking of Celtic but we got the result and I'm happy with that," Ivanauskas explained. "I'm happy with the result and happy that we are in the next round because that was our target. But we had the goalkeeper to thank for the result.

"Craig is the best keeper I have worked with. He is very important to our team especially in Europe. We are not looking towards the Athens game, we are just thinking about Celtic. It is important now for me and my players to concentrate on Sunday's game with them."

"You could say job done," added captain Steven Pressley. "But it wasn't a great performance. We gave the ball away needlessly at times and found ourselves on the back-foot. Athens will be a different proposition and we will have to improve on keeping possession."