It wasn't to be for Hearts in their quest to reach the Europa League group stage for the first time since 2005. But it's not all doom and gloom after a 1-0 defeat to FC Zurich at Tynecastle, which took the playoff scoreline to 3-1 on aggregate.
Robbie Neilson 's side now drop into the Europa Conference League a where they could face clubs such as Villarreal and West Ham when the draw takes place on Friday morning. The Gorgie club were already 2-1 down from the first leg in Switzerland, and they caused their opponents danger before the break and ought to have at least been level on aggregate.
However their hopes took a turn for the worst early into the second-half when Jorge Grant was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for diving in the box, before Fabian Rohner slammed in the winner for the Swiss champions with 11 minutes left. Here's how the Hearts players rated at the end of a bitter sweet evening.
