Hearts manager Steven Naismith has called on his players to harness the “power of Tynecastle” as they prepare for a crucial second-leg clash against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League play-offs. After a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg in the Czech Republic, Naismith believes that the backing of the home crowd could be the key to overturning the deficit and securing a spot in the group stages of the competition.
A Defeat, But Not Defeated
The first leg at the Doosan Arena was a closely fought encounter, with Hearts showing resilience and determination against a strong Viktoria Plzen side. Despite a disciplined defensive performance, the Scottish side was undone by a cruel own goal from Daniel Oyegoke in stoppage time. The young defender, who had been solid throughout the match, inadvertently deflected a cross into his own net, handing Plzen a slender 1-0 lead to take to Edinburgh.
Reflecting on the first leg, Naismith acknowledged the disappointment of the result but was quick to praise his team’s effort. “It was a tough one to take, especially the way we conceded,” he said. “But the players gave everything, and we kept ourselves in the tie. We knew it was going to be a difficult game, and it’s still all to play for in the second leg.”
The Importance of Tynecastle
With the tie delicately poised, Naismith is counting on the famous atmosphere at Tynecastle to inspire his side to victory. The Hearts manager has often spoken about the unique energy that the home crowd brings, and he is confident that this will give his team the edge they need.
“Tynecastle is a special place,” Naismith said in his pre-match press conference. “The fans here are incredible, and when they get behind the team, it makes a massive difference. We’ve seen it time and time again—teams come here and struggle because of the intensity of the crowd. We need to use that to our advantage on Thursday night.”
Naismith also emphasized the importance of starting the game strongly and getting the crowd involved early. “We need to come out with real intent from the first whistle. If we can get an early goal, it will lift everyone, and that momentum can carry us through the game. The fans will play a huge part, and we need to give them something to cheer about.”
Naismith Adjustments for the Second Leg
In terms of tactics, Naismith hinted at some possible adjustments for the second leg. While Hearts defended well in the first leg, the manager knows that his side will need to be more adventurous in attack if they are to overturn the deficit. With Viktoria Plzen likely to sit back and protect their lead, Hearts will need to find a way to break down a disciplined defense.
“We were solid defensively in the first leg, but we need to be more proactive going forward,” Naismith explained. “We know we have the quality to create chances, but we need to be clinical. Plzen are a well-organized side, so we’ll have to be patient and pick our moments to attack. But we’re at home, and we have to take the game to them.”
The Hearts manager also stressed the importance of maintaining composure, especially if the game becomes tight in the later stages. “We need to stay focused, stick to our game plan, and believe in ourselves. If we do that, I’m confident we can get the result we need.”
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