Hearts boss Steven Naismith hopes to draw on last year’s European campaign

Steven Naismith believes Hearts can draw on last season’s positive European experience in their Europa League qualifying clash with Viktoria Plzen.

The Jambos boss looked back to last year’s Europa League qualifier against Rosenborg where a 2-1 defeat away to the Norwegian side in the first leg was followed up an impressive 3-1 win at Tynecastle, before they lost to PAOK Salonika in the play-off.

The Gorgie side are in the Czech Republic for the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday night, still recovering from their League Cup exit to Falkirk at the weekend.

Naismith is looking for his side to bounce back to form with their first win of the season.

The Hearts boss told his club’s website: “It was frustrating to go out (of the Premier Sports Cup) like we did because we’ve got a real desire to be successful.

“We’ve got a schedule ahead that’s unforgiving, so we don’t have much time to dwell on things.

“We spoke about things on Sunday then it was full focus on tomorrow night’s game. As players and staff, if you can’t get up for games like tomorrow night then you shouldn’t be at the club.

“We’ve got the group stages no matter what, but it would be a great achievement to make the Europa League. Our mentality is one where we want to perform in the best tournaments that we can.

“We can draw on the experience last season against Rosenborg. It’s a similar set up – away first, then home – and we did well despite losing the first leg and came back to win it.

“We didn’t panic, we stuck to what we believed, and here we are a year later in a similar situation. We have that bit more experience and I believe we can do it.

“We’ll need to defend better than we have in the last two games but we’re a good team coming up against a good team and I think it will be an entertaining game of football.”

Viktoria Plzen started in the previous round, beating Ukrainian side Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 3-1 on aggregate, and are second in their domestic league with four wins and a draw.

Naismith said: “Their record this season in the short-term is good because they haven’t conceded too many goals but their consistency in European competition tells you everything you need to know about them.

“They can cause us problems and that’s why it’s key to defend better. If we hit the right levels of energy and desire, then I’m hopeful that we can come out of the tie with the win.”

Naismith provide an encouraging update on the fitness of defender Frankie Kent although Colombian full-back Andres Salazar will need to wait to make his debut.

The Hearts boss said: “Frankie Kent is fine. Everyone that’s travelled is fit.

“The only exception is Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof, whilst Andres is just waiting for some documentation before he can join us on these trips.”