ELVIS: WE'LL GET OVER SPARTA FLOP BY BEING REFORMED CHARACTERS

STEVEN PRESSLEY has challenged his demoralised troops to come out fighting as they bid to stop their season turning into a disaster.

Hearts slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Sparta Prague at Murrayfield in midweek and now face crashing out of Europe for the second time this season.

It was Jambos' fifth defeat of a shocking start to the campaign in contrast to last season when they blazed out of the blocks and lost just one of their opening 14 games.

A season that had offered much hope after their second-placed finish last term is now threatening to go horribly wrong.

Manager Valdas Ivanauskas has been slammed with fans booing his decision to sub Mauricio Pinilla in the defeat to Sparta.

Hearts now travel to Motherwell this afternoon in a vital game and Pressley wants to see characters in the dressing room.

With just one win in their last seven games ahead of the Fir Park trip, skipper Elvis has issued a rallying call to his team-mates to ensure the season doesn't nosedive further.

He said: "It's been tough over the past couple of weeks and we need players who will fight for this club.

"We must bounce back. We need to show courage, spirit and we need big characters at this time - that'll make the difference.

"I reckon we have players in the dressing room with a will to fight and I'm sure we'll put things right.

"We have to get our season back on track and that starts with our game at Fir Park.

"We've had two disappointing results against St Mirren and Sparta Prague and Sunday has become a massive game."

Pressley admitted Hearts haven't been able to live up to the hype following their success last season.

But he insists they must learn to cope if they are to be serious challengers to the Old Firm.

He said: "With success comes a higher level of expectation.

"I said prior to the start of the season we'd have to show we can handle it - the Old Firm do it year after year.

"But in recent weeks we've looked unable to cope. And it's going to take some big performances and characters."

The defeat to Sparta Prague on Thursday was a low for Pressley and he described it as his most disappointing European game in his time with the club.

And after their Champions League exit to AEK Athens they now have a mountain to climb to stay in the UEFA Cup.

The Tynecastle captain added: "None of us performed near the levels we're capable of.

"We didn't function in the manner we can and it was reflected in the result.

"There's no doubt it was a justified win for Sparta. Since I've played here we've given excellent displays in Europe but that's the most disappointing I've experienced.

"We took encouragement from our second-leg performance in Athens.

"Although we lost that game, for 75 minutes we played extremely well.

"But Thursday was a big let-down for our supporters who turned out for us again. It's not over because you never know in football but it will take a remarkable performance to overcome the deficit.

"We need a mammoth display. It's going to take something special over there.

"We were never in control in our home game.

"We didn't get any momentum in the team.

"Although we played with a better tempo after the break we never got going and we didn't put them under the type of pressure we're capable of."

But Pressley dismissed those who say playing their home European games at Murrayfield - where they also lost to AEK Athens - was a factor.

He said: "Hindsight's a great thing. But we've had some great results here and there's no way we can use that as an excuse."

Taken from the Sunday Mail