Tottenham 0 - 0 Hearts (agg 5 - 0)

Hearts restored a huge chunk of pride with a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their Europa League play-off tie at White Hart Lane.

Paulo Sergio's team had faced mission impossible after the 5-0 defeat in the first leg but the Jambos produced a vastly improved performance in London and will head into Sunday's derby with Hibs with renewed confidence.

Ryan McGowan returned to the Hearts back line, the Australian slotting in at right-back. Paulo also handed a start to Eggert Jonsson and Rudi Skacel, while Gordon Smith was deployed as a lone striker.

Harry Redknapp kicked off with a mix of youth and experience, Carlo Cudicini, Tom Huddlestone, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Sebastien Bassong, Michael Dawson and Vedran Corluka all in the starting line-up.

The Aussie defender was soon in the thick of the action, hauling down the dangerous Andros Townsend but Marius Zaliukas rose well to head clear from Huddlestone's delivery into the box.

With nine minutes gone, Jamie MacDonald, in for the rested Marian Kello, pulled off a fine save from Pavlyuchenko's powerful drive from 25 yards. The 2500 travelling fans were in good voice from the start and they rose to acclaim the keeper's fine effort.

Two minutes later and Hearts came within inches of taking a shock lead. McGowan played in Smith on the edge of the area and the youngster turned his marker brilliantly before rattling a shot off the underside of Cudicini's crossbar, the Spurs defence scrambling the ball to safety.

It was an encouraging start for the visitors, who were enjoying decent spells of pressure in the opening exchanges and Novikovas almost set up Smith for another shooting chance but Townsend was alert to block.

With 21 minutes gone, Grainger tried to catch out Cudicini at his near post with a free kick from a tight angle but the stopper got down quickly to smother his left-foot shot.

Brilliant play from Scott Robinson then helped turn defence into attack but Jonsson's crossfield pass was just too strong for Templeton to latch onto.

In the 29th minute, however, Spurs should have taken the lead when MacDonald brought down Harry Kane as the youngster tried to round the keeper after latching onto a through ball. The referee looked leniently on the offence, though, dishing out just a yellow card before Kane stepped up to take the kick himself. MacDonald redeemed himself, though, flinging himself to his right to turnaway the spot-kick, prompting another huge roar from the Gorgie faithful gathered behind his goal.

Another darting run from Novikovas eight minutes from the break carried the winger into the Tottenham box but his shot lacked the power to trouble Cudicini. Another Hearts corner moments later was gathered safely by the Spurs man as the visitors regrouped well after the penalty scare.

Half-time: Tottenham 0, Hearts 0.

Encouragingly, Hearts continued where they left off on the restart, Skacel releasing Templeton, whose curling left-foot shot drifted just wide of the right-hand upright.

Jonsson then let fly with his left foot after 53 minutes but his effort was wide of target.

Two minutes later and the Jambos threatened again, this time Skacel breaking forward into the box only to see his shot blocked for a corner, Robinson's flag kick tipped off the head of the in-rushing Zaliukas by Cudicini.

"Harry, Harry gie's a wave!" chanted the Hearts fans and the Spurs boss duly obliged, bringing rapturous applause from the Jambos, who continued with "Harry is a Jambo, Harry is a Jambo!"

A long clearance from Grainger almost presented an opportunity for Templeton but the youngster was crowded out as he attempted to carve out a shooting chance.

More good build-up play then saw Smith picked out in the area but his header failed to trouble Cudicini and then Novikovas blasted high over as Hearts enjoyed more healthy spells of possession.

Pavlyuchenko had Spurs' best chance of the half with 77 minutes on the clock but he lacked composure when the opportunity came his way and scooped his shot aimlessly over the top.

Townsend picked up a yellow card five minutes from time for bringing down Suso, who had only just replaced the industrious Smith.

Cudicini then had to look smart to get down to gather a drive from Taouil as Hearts finished the game looking for a late winner.

Full-time: Tottenham 0, Hearts 0.

Tottenham: Cudicini; Corluka, Dawson (Kaboul, 45), Bassong, Townsend; Fredericks (Kranjcar, 61), Huddlestone, Livermore (Nicholson, 75), Carroll, Kane, Pavlyuchenko. Subs not used: Friedel, van der Vaart, Defoe, Assou-Ekotto.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Novikovas, Robinson (Taouil, 79), Jonsson, Templeton; Skacel (Mrowiec, 72); Smith (Suso, 82). Subs not used: Kello, Obua, Driver, Stevenson.

Referee: Anastassios Kakos (Greece).

Top man: The wonderfully humorous Hearts fans!

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