HEARTS v AEK ATHENS: MAN BY MAN

Hearts

Craig Gordon 8 - Watched helplessly as Dellas' header hit crossbar inside two minutes but made amends with crucial saves from Cesar and was competent throughout.

Robbie Neilson 7 - Resolute defensive performance in face of extreme adversity. Complemented Pressley and Berra effectively.

Steven Pressley 8 - Skipper was an inspiration to teammates and threw himself in front of everthing. Enjoyed a great tussle with Kapetanos but one uncharacteristic momentary lapse was almost punished by Cesar.

Christophe Berra 7 - Maturing into a fine central defender and forming impressive partnership with Pressley. Fine display given the enormity of the occasion but out of luck with cruel deflection for the Greeks' winner.

Takis Fyssas 6 - The Greek defender looked as though he was trying too hard to impress and his distribution was strangely awry.

Christos Karipidis 4 - Always a tall order for central defender to replace influential Brellier in the midfield and Greek star looked well off the pace against compatriots right from the start.

Bruno Aguiar 6 - Given runaround by former Rangers reject Emerson at times. Squandered decent half chance to open scoring in second half then rather unluckily sent off for dissent.

Devidas Mikoliunas 6 - Struck deflected effort off the post after 11 minutes and blazed another good chance over the top. But grabbed crucial and precious opening goal.

Neil McCann 6 - Still showing signs of getting back to full match fitness. Provided occasional spurt of energy and flash of skill but all too infrequent.

Michal Pospisil 5 - Must have breathed huge a sigh of relief when he headed Julio Cesar's corner off his own post and found it hard to get to grips with contest.

Roman Bednar 5 - Czech hitman got absolutely no change at all from colossal defensive figure of Dellas but did strike initial shot off the post for Mikoliunas to score from the rebound.

Substitutes:

Lee Wallace 5 - Replaced hard-working Bednar for last 21 minutes in a bid to protect lead.

Edgaris Jankauskas 6 - Flu bug victim replaced ineffective Karispidis after 54 minutes. Switch paid immediate dividends when he helped set up Mikoliunas goal.

Calum Elliot 2 - Only given last eight minutes so got little chance to shine.

Subs not used: Banks, Beslija, Makela, Mole.

AEK Athens: Sorrentino, Pautasso, Dellas, Cirillo, Georgeas, Emerson, Ivic, Koutroumanos, Julio Cesar, Liberopoulos, Kapetanos. Subs: Chiotis, Papaststhopoulos, Tziortziopoulos, Moras, Soares, Lakis, Tozser.

Referee: NVollquartz (Denmark).

Taken from the Daily Record