Hearts boss Robbie Neilson watched his side fly out the traps with a goal after 42 seconds on their way to a comprehensive win over Dundee United - but warned they have to be even BETTER against Zurich despite the Swiss side BOTTOM of the table after a wretched start to the season.
The Jambos got a morale booster ahead of their Europa League play-off against the Swiss champions. Zurich remain bottom of the table after Franco Foda’s side came from behind to claim a point in the 1-1 derby clash with fellow strugglers Winterthur. Fabian Rohner scored for the visitors five minutes from time as Zurich finally found the net in after 445 minutes of trying in the league. However, the reigning Swiss champions remain bottom on goal difference behind Winterthur with two points from five games.
Zurich put five past Linfield over two legs in the Europa League third qualifying round to set up a play-off clash with Hearts while the Jambos won convincingly against Dundee United to warm up for the clash. But Neilson wasn't entirely convinced by what he saw.
He said: “We’re getting there. But I thought the first half we were pretty poor and if we do that on Thursday night we will be two or three goals down. Zurich are still Swiss champions so we have to be respectful of that as well.
“They have not had a great start to the season but still have international players there and are the Swiss champions so we need to make sure that we play our best game. We want to bring something back to Tynecastle, whether that be a draw or a win or a close, to use this atmosphere and intensity to drive us forward and push us through. But they have real quality so we need to make sure we negate that but we feel we have real threat in the attacking area and we believe we can go there and score.”
Neilson wants to add another forward to his ranks but admits that’s unlikely before Thursday. But he was delighted to welcome Stephen Kingsley back from a hamstring injury and to see Lawrence Shankland make it two goals in seven days.
He said: “Stephen has been probably our best performer since he came here. To have him fit and ready for selection is great.
"We have been chasing Lawrence for a couple of years. The job of the team is to put the ball in the penalty box and he will score goals. If you feed Lawrence, he will score goals for you.”
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