It's game on for Hearts

HEARTS will storm into Prague's Toyota Arena this evening with the ebullient words of coach John McGlynn ringing in their ears: "Get the first goal and it's game on."

The Tynecastle side trail Sparta Prague 2-0 from the first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round tie in Edinburgh as the management team of Valdas Ivanauskas and McGlynn attempt to effect what would be the club's greatest-ever comeback tonight.

Indeed, the Jambos will make history if they get through as no Scottish side has ever overturned a first-leg deficit from a home tie in Europe.

If Hearts are to produce a surprise in Prague and progress to the group phase, then opening the scoring is an absolute must. And McGlynn will impart that very message to the squad in the dressing-room tonight, believing that taking the lead would unsettle the home players and grant Hearts a vital route back into this European tie.

McGlynn said: "If we get the first goal, it's game on - simple as that.

"I'm sure if we score first they will become a bit edgy. It's certainly not done and dusted yet.

"Our results since the first leg have been very encouraging and very pleasing. We certainly made a bit of a mess of it in the first game against Sparta so this is our chance to make up for that.

"Whether we have left ourselves too much to do or not may depend on who scores first.

"A two-goal lead is sometimes a difficult one from their point of view, even in a 90-minute game, because, if they lose one, they might become a little bit nervy.

"It is difficult to predict how the game will go. Sparta might sit in, but then again we thought AEK Athens would do that against us in the first leg and they came out and attacked us.

"Sparta might take the attitude 'it's 2-0 to us so it's up to you to score', or they might just go for a third goal and put us under a lot of pressure. In that instance, we would hope to be able to exploit a few gaps at the back."

McGlynn visited the Toyota Arena just over two weeks ago to see Sparta record a 2-0 victory over Tescoma Zlin in the Czech Gambrinus Liga.

And he continued: "It is a tight stadium. The fans are very close to the park but we are used to that at Tynecastle.

"We will go there and enjoy it and try to turn the tie round. If we do, it's a great escape."

Captain Steven Pressley was in a similarly charged mood to McGlynn as he spoke on the difference between Hearts' display in the first leg and what travelling supporters will witness in the Czech capital.

"The performance at home was poor but what I can guarantee you is that you will see a different Hearts here," said the defender.

"I can't guarantee the result but I can guarantee a totally different performance. We have to be assertive and try to score first, hoping that the Sparta players then become nervous."

Striker Michal Pospisil and defender Takis Fyssas are already ruled out of the match due to a lack of fitness and a back problem respectively.

This evening's match will be officiated by Germans, with referee Peter Sippel being assisted by Peter Henes and Walter Hofmann. The fourth official is Michael Kempter.

And Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov has heaped pressure on Sippel by criticising Sparta's allegedly physical approach in the first leg at Murrayfield.

That game was refereed by Italian official Paulo Bertini.

Romanov said: "We've been through defeat against Sparta Prague, now we are in the Czech Republic and our aim is to win.

"We will give everything and we hope we can bring the result our fans want to see.

"In the first leg there was a lot of crude, physical attacks against our players.

"It was a highly professional referee but even he didn't spot some of those attacks. I hope Sparta won't get the chance to use those tactics this time."

Taken from the Scotsman