Blair Spittal is determined to lead Hearts past Rapid Vienna and into the league phase, driven by the bitter memory of a Conference League collapse two years ago. The midfielder, who will captain the side at the Allianz Stadion tonight, says the Jambos have unfinished business in Europe after a promising campaign unravelled.
A Sweet Moment That Turned Sour
Spittal is one of the few remaining survivors from Hearts' last league phase appearance in Europe, two years ago in the Conference League. He scored the clinching goal in a 2-0 win over Cypriot side Omonia, making it two wins from their opening two games. At that point, statisticians had Hearts' chances of qualifying for the knockout stages at over 90 per cent with four games to go.
But costly defeats to Heidenheim, Cercle Brugge and Copenhagen, followed by a disastrous draw at home to minnows Petrocub, sent the Jambos spinning out. Spittal admits the collapse left a sour taste.
He said: "It feels like unfinished business because we didn't get through it that year. We started the league phase ever so well. I remember there being a stat about what percentage chance we had of going through the group after the first few games. We managed to muck that up if I'm being honest, so there's a wee bit of a sour taste from that perspective."
A £5m Prize in Vienna
A £5m spot in the league phase awaits the winner of tonight's showdown in Vienna. Spittal, 31, says the occasion is right up there with the best of his career.
He said: "Obviously, coming into the club, that was one of the reasons I wanted to come here, to play in these special occasions. So that was something right up there. Tomorrow will be up there as well. We just need to make sure we do ourselves justice."
Hearts have been beaten in Graz and Lisbon in their Champions League and Europa League qualifying dreams over the past five weeks, but Spittal insists they can finally be victorious in Vienna to save their Euro campaign from a third and final wipeout.
Momentum from the Benfica Comeback
The tie is finely balanced after Hearts trailed 1-0 at the interval at Tynecastle, before a stirring second-half performance, topped by James Wilson's 30-yard thunderbolt, secured a 2-2 draw.
Spittal said: "It's massive. Like I said, the last two ties, it was kind of hard going into the second leg after what happened. I think you can see that the second leg against Benfica has given us momentum in the last couple of weeks that we've built up to now. So we've given ourselves a good opportunity that we can capitalise on."
He added: "We'd like to keep their chances to a minimum. We've got the capability to score goals, I think you can see that in the last couple of weeks. I think you can see the progress in the team, so the main thing tomorrow is that we go out and put on a performance."
Seeking a Rare Away Win
Spittal has tasted an away victory in Europe only once since signing for Hearts two years ago, a win against Dinamo Minsk in Baku. They will need to top that in the Allianz Stadion to extend their continental campaign this season.
Hearts' only other competitive fixture in this city was in 1988, when Mike Galloway's strike edged past Austria Vienna on the way to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Spittal acknowledges the club's away record in Europe has not been the best.
He said: "I saw a few things in the press this week talking about it. I saw a few things about Hearts' away record since then in Europe not being the best. In my time here, we have won games away from home in Europe - only one - but it's good memories to look back on."
With a full week to prepare, Spittal believes the team can reinforce the manager's messages and finally deliver a European away win when it matters most.
