Hearts burst with pride before a late fall at Anfield

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Friday 31 August 2012 09:12

HEARTS manager John McGlynn hailed his team’s battling performance at Liverpool as a moral victory last night, after a David Templeton strike had taken the tie to within a few minutes of extra time.

A goal in the 87th minute by Luis Suarez made the score 1-1 on the night and took Liverpool through to the group stages of the Europa League on a 2-1 aggregate, but there was no denying the quality of the Hearts performance.

McGlynn expressed his pleasure in the disciplined way his team had played both home and away, and also said he hoped that club owner Vladimir Romanov, who was there to watch the match, would consider adding to the squad in the hope of making further progress The manager added that Hearts had had talks with Ryan Stevenson aimed at bringing the midfielder back to Tynecastle, but accepted that a sizeable bid for Templeton could see the goalscorer leave the club before today’s transfer deadline.

“I’m very proud of the players and the performance they put in over the two legs,” McGlynn said. “And I’m extremely disappointed for the players, because they put so much into it.

“They got themselves in front, only for it to be snatched away at the end. They put every bit of effort into it they possibly could, they’ve had a good shape and organisation about them, and they were very dogged and 
determined throughout this game and at Tynecastle.

“We created opportunities and were a threat, and that was shown by the goal tonight. To score at Anfield and go in front was great from our point of view – it was just a pity we couldn’t hold on and take the game into extra time.

“It was great for the players to stick to that game plan against phenomenal players. I couldn’t ask for any more from them, and I think the fans showed [their pride] as well, so a big thank you for the fans as well.”

Being a goal down from the first leg, Hearts knew they had to remain patient in their search for an equaliser, lest Liverpool take advantage of extra space at the back. “As long as it was Liverpool nil we knew we were still in with a chance,” he said. “And we said even if it was 93 minutes when we scored that would be fine. We probably scored too early. We score a goal, we think we’re going to get a second and kill the tie, and we actually get caught on the counter-attack. Ryan McGowan is bombing down the right side and loses the ball, as they slip Marius Zaliukas slips and lets Suarez into a one-v-one situation, and he’s probably the last person you want with the ball running into your box.

“From that point of view it’s a bit disappointing. But there is a moral victory in there for Hearts and for Scottish football. I think we showed over the two legs that when you work your socks off you can bridge the [financial] gap a bit.”

Stevenson has been linked with Motherwell as well as Hearts, and McGlynn said that he was no more than hopeful of recruiting the player, as well as keeping the rest of the squad.

“I hope I can hang on to them all,” McGlynn added. “Mr Romanov was here tonight and hopefully saw what the players can achieve.

“I hope tonight maybe gave even more of a concern to go and add to the squad rather than lose players. There is a chance [of signing Stevenson]. We have shown an interest.

“I don’t want to lose a player like David Templeton, but he’s in the last year of his contract now and if the board decide there is a bid that they can’t turn down, then maybe there will be something done.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was a relieved man after seeing Suarez save the tie from going into extra-time with just three minutes of the regulation 180 to play.

The Uruguayan’s left-foot shot, fired in after he got the better of Marius Zaliukas on the left of the box, may have given the home team a draw on the night and a win overall – but there was no denying that this was a moral victory for a Hearts side who just a year earlier had lost 5-0 to Tottenham at the same stage of the same competition.

“The spirit was there,” Rodgers said. “The most important thing was to get through.

“It looked only a matter of time before we got the goal and you’ve got to be patient.

“It was unfortunate we conceded, but the attitude was great. And we’re in the group stages, which is great.”

Taken from the Scotsman