Robbie Neilson was glad his Hearts players learned a Europa League lesson against Crawley Town this afternoon.
The Jambos threatened to blow the English opposition away after two Stephen Kingsley goals in the opening 17 minutes had them well in control. But the English League Two outfit restored parity after the break thanks to Jack Payne and Dom Telford. Neilson ’s squad didn’t return from Wednesday’s trip to Tranmere until the early hours of the morning on Thursday, and the Tynecastle boss felt that contributed to a tired second half display.
But he insists his charges will have to find ways to manage that this season ahead of their Euro adventures. Hearts are 180 minutes away from the Europa League group stages, entering the competition at the play-off round next month. Even if they are knocked out of that, they drop into the Europa Conference League. It will be a punishing Thursday-Sunday schedule either way, and Neilson knows his team can't turn in flat performances when they return from the continent for Premiership duty.
“I was really, really pleased with the first 45 minutes,” he said. “Second half, I thought we showed a lot of fatigue. With the travel down on the Wednesday and the boys getting back to their houses at 5 o’clock in the morning.
“This is the reason we took this game, took the game down at Tranmere and it’s the reason we’re doing Preston as well. We want the players to realise that we need to prepare for these games; how we do it, how we sleep and how we eat.
“First 45 minutes, we were excellent but second 45 we showed that fatigue that we can’t show within the league games. Although you want to win every game, I’m pleased with the way that it happened today. What I wouldn’t want to do is just have a normal pre-season then we get to the first European game, come back on the Sunday and lose the game with a whole second half performance that we had today.
“So it’s an eye-opener for the players. They’ll know that when we play and travel back late at night, we need to make sure we prepare really well and the players need to find ways to do that.”
New signing Kye Rowles finally got a look at Tynecastle after visa issues delayed his arrival at the club. His registration hasn’t yet been confirmed, so was listed as a trialist on the bench but didn't play any part in the game.
But Neilson is just delighted to have the Australian international in the building. He probably won't feature against Preston North End next midweek and the club will take care to build up his fitness and not rush him into action.
“I’m delighted to get him,” Neilson told Hearts TV. “it's been a while getting him over with the visa process. But with the work from the staff in the background, it's great to finally get him here. It’s now just a case of building his fitness up and getting him ready.”
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