Josh McPake insists the goal that hauled Hearts off the floor against Rapid Vienna belongs to him, despite UEFA officials crediting it to an own goal. The Jambos winger is also clear that Wouter Vrancken's side have the firepower to finish the job in Austria on Wednesday.
McPake produced a key moment in the first leg when he darted into the box after 55 minutes and hammered a low ball across the six-yard box. The ball deflected into the net off Rapid defender Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao to level the score at 1-1. The summer signing insists the strike is his, even if UEFA officials think otherwise.
There was no doubt over the second goal, when James Wilson unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt to edge the Jambos ahead in the Conference League play-off. Rapid hit back through Nikolaus Wurmbrand to leave the tie hanging in the balance ahead of next week's do-or-die second leg.
McPake confident of goals in Vienna
After hitting 13 goals in their last four games, with eight different scorers, McPake reckons Hearts have good reason to believe they can gun down the Austrians on opposition territory and secure the £5m league phase spot. He said: "Definitely. Obviously, we've got good players going forward and the way the manager wants to play, it's very, very attacking."
"It involves loads of goals and assists and dangerous play. There's quite a few more goals in this team. So, I'm looking forward to it. The first goal? I'm definitely claiming it.. yes!"
"Listen, that's obviously one of my aims coming here. I want to get involved in goals, assists and positive play. I feel like I've done that so I'm pleased. I was just thinking either put it across or hit the target. I'm not sure, to be honest with you!"
"It just kind of happened. But in the first half I fizzled one across and nothing really came of it. So I thought, you know what, I'll just hit it and see what happens. And I ended up getting a wee goal. It felt pretty good. I scored against Inverness last Sunday and it got called offside, so I was pretty raging about that one. But I'm glad I got one on Thursday night."
Wilson strike leaves McPake in shock
McPake admits he looked on in disbelief as Tynecastle teen Wilson hammered Hearts 2-1 in front with an outrageous strike soon after. He said: "Unbelievable. I couldn't believe it. I was actually in shock when it went in. It took me a wee bit of time to realise when he went away celebrating. But I'm pleased for him. He deserved that - and what a strike it was."
It's not just Hearts who have hit the goal trail in recent weeks though. Unbeaten Rapid have now struck 31 times in their nine games so far this season, including a remarkable 8-0 trouncing of Grazer AK on their last outing at home in the Austrian Bundesliga last Sunday. Johannes Hoff Thorup's side showed their qualities going forward at Tynecastle and are favourites to finish the tie in their Allianz Stadion on Wednesday evening.
Hearts can spring a surprise
But McPake is confident Hearts can spring a surprise. He said: "We're in a pretty good spot. We gave a good account of ourselves on Thursday and we'll go into the tie with a lot of confidence."
"At half time the manager just told us to keep doing the right things and keep being us. We came out flying in the second half so, obviously, it worked. But it was just the same mentality as going into the game. Keep doing our thing and the right stuff will happen for us. I feel like it did. That's what the manager's drilled into us from day dot. If we do it our way, we should succeed."
"They're a very, very good side as well. But it would mean a lot to qualify. Especially if I had a chance to play my part in it. It's more important we just take it one game at a time. Don't get too far ahead of ourselves and go in with the same mentality next week."
McPake was left out of the Champions League squad as Hearts crashed out to Sturm Graz last month. But the 24-year-old summer arrival from St Johnstone has forced his way into Vrancken's starting line-up with a string of positive displays that included his first Jambos goal against Dundee United a fortnight ago.
The former Rangers kid has come a long way in the two years since he dropped down to the third tier of Scottish football to kick start his career with Stirling Albion. After helping Saints win the Championship title last season, he has kicked on again in Gorgie under Vrancken. The winger insists the Belgian's style is perfectly suited to taking his own game onto the next level.
McPake said: "Definitely. I have loads of positive chats with him about going forward but also the defending side of it. Making sure I'm switched on there. He's massive on that. It's been brilliant so far and I've loved working with him. I had confidence in myself to step up. I'm enjoying it so far. I'm loving these types of games. Benfica and Thursday night. We'll see what else I can do."
