Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media before Hearts host St Johnstone in the Premiership on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Vrancken says Hearts have been dealt a "tough draw" in the Conference League where their opponents include Monaco and and Trabzonspor.

• He believes they have been "unlucky" in landing the top two teams from pots five and six, Nordsjaelland and Thun respectively.

• On the prospect of advancing from the league phase, Vrancken says: "I think we always have to believe in this for sure, 100%. When you start such a competition you don't start it to just participate, you start it to make something of it and making something of it is going to the next round."

• Hearts were "over the moon" at winning the play-off against Rapid Vienna and Vrancken adds: "It is every player's dream to show yourself in Europe, so for the development of the team and also as an individual it is good to be there."

• Some players are still recovering from the exertions of Wednesday night in Vienna but everyone trained on Friday and will be assessed before the St Johnstone game.

• Vrancken says it is beneficial his side are playing at Tynecastle as the fans can lift the energy in the team.

• New signing JJ Williams is available for a debut while Ageu is back in training and should be available in a few weeks. Tom Renaud will have a scan on his ankle but "it doesn't look good".

Image source, SNS

• St Johnstone have lost 10 of their past 11 Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts, including six in a row since a 1-0 victory in December 2019.

• Hearts are on a run of eight successive home wins in the Premiership, their longest sequence at Tynecastle in the top flight since also winning eight in a row from August to December 2005.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their past 14 away games in the Premiership (D2 L11), losing their latest five in a row, including their first of this season 1-0 at St Mirren.

• Hearts have won their past 10 top-flight meetings with St Johnstone since a 2-1 defeat in February 2022.

• Since the start of last season, Hearts forward Claudio Braga has the second-most goal involvements (20 - 15 goals, 5 assists) in the Premiership behind Celtic's Benjamin Nygren (24).

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

After carrying the coefficient and doing their bit for Scottish football's credibility on the continent, Hearts have been rewarded with a decent looking Conference League draw.

The standout night at Tynecastle will be when Monaco come to town. One of the most successful and storied French clubs, they finished seventh in Ligue 1 last term under new Scotland head coach Sebastian Pocognoli.

Former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender Filipe Luis is now in the dugout and his side includes familiar names such as Eric Dier, Ansu Fati and a certain ex-Steelman, Mika Biereth.

A trip to Monaco, albeit a bit dear, might have been nice, but supporters won't shirk at a visit to Cyprus to take on Pafos.

Fourth in the Cypriot First Division last term, they were also in the Champions League where they beat Villareal and came agonisingly close to the play-offs after thrashing Slavia Prague, but still exited on goal difference.

Bosnian champions Borac will descend on Gorgie with plans of their own to progress again after reaching the last 16 of this competition two years ago.

Now. This is sure to be a belting trip. Turkey awaits. Mohammed Salah's Trabzonspor await.

The Liverpool legend joined in the summer and his old Anfield pal Fabinho has just followed too. They now call ex-Rangers midfielder John Lundstram a team-mate.

Meanwhile, Nordsjaelland - who faced Scottish Cup runners-up Queen of the South in 2008 in the Uefa Cup - are Tynecastle bound, having finished third in the Danish Superliga last season.

And finally, a trip to the stunning town of Thun in Switzerland is in store for Hearts fans.

Like Hearts, the Swiss champions started in Champions League qualifying, but lost to Dinamo Zagreb before Lech Poznan knocked them out of the Europa League.

But, like Hearts, they have secured European football in some form. And for the Gorgie boys, they've been handed a very eye-catching offering.

Hearts will face Monaco and Mo Salah's Trabzonspor in this season's Conference League.

The home matches in the league phase for Wouter Vrancken's side are Monaco, Borac of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Denmark's Nordsjaelland.

Hearts will visit Pafos of Cyprus, Trabzonspor and Swiss side Thun.

Hearts fans, are you happy with the draw - and confident of progressing?

Tell us here

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus says "nothing in the world" can beat the feeling of saving the penalties that sent his side into the Conference League.

The Dutchman denied Moulaye Haidara and former Celtic player Marco Tilio as 10-man Hearts beat Rapid Vienna 4-3 on spot-kicks in Austria after the sides again shared four goals.

Reus, who joined from Beveren this summer, said: "I screamed, I felt my head was exploding.

"And then I remembered, like, 'Oh, I don't know if my feet were on the line.' Then when I saw the referee blow, I just went crazy."

Reus was particularly delighted to see the reaction of the Hearts supporters after a night that secured league-phase European football.

"It's so beautiful. And also for them, I think it's a night they will also never forget," he added.

"I'm happy that I can be a hero, that they can be proud of me and happy with me.

"That's why I came here, to make them proud and make them happy and experience nights like this, because there's nothing in the world that can beat this feeling."

The 24-year-old described the victory as the best night of his career.

"Unreal, above the world. I have to say, I never had an evening like this," he said.

"It was just crazy from the start to the end. But yeah, I'm really happy we can advance, and we are now in a group stage. It's really nice."

Reus revealed Hearts' new goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall provided him with signals during the shootout to help him decide which way to dive.

The plan had been discussed before the match, with the coaching staff having studied Rapid's potential penalty takers.

"He gave me signs, and I'm really happy that we discussed it with Marshall and with all the other goalkeepers," he said.

Image source, Getty

Former Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson on BBC Sportsound

That's one of the best things I've ever seen. That's the best performance from Hearts I've seen since I was a kid in the academy.

Going 1-0 down is hard enough. To turn that around, play the way they did, even with 10 men they were the better team.

That game had absolutely everything. To a man, every single Hearts player that was on the pitch, and the manager and coaching staff, played a big part.

BBC Scotland commentator Thomas Duncan on BBC Sportsound

One of the most heroic performances away in Europe you are ever likely to see.

Hearts are Conference League bound. The players race to the away end and the Hearts fans are going mental – they can get their passports out again.

An incredible performance filled with guts, determination, heart and massive quality and composure when needed most. It is a huge fillip for Wouter Vrancken.

Former Hearts defender Allan Preston on BBC Sportsound

Hearts deserved it in 90 minutes, they deserved it in extra time, they deserved it on penalties.

I wouldn't say there was doom and gloom at Hearts, but they lost the league in the last few minutes and then lost their manager, captain and other key players.

The new manager comes in, changes the system, and has been magnificent. The players gave him everything, some of them couldn't walk at the end.

Did I see this coming? No - but it is magnificent.

The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan on BBC Scottish football podcast

Hearts have taken time to find their feet after a difficult start to the season, but Wouter Wrancken is steadying the ship now. It's good to see guys like Josh McPake coming in as well.

There's reason for Hearts to be cautiously optimistic now. The big challenge for all teams who get to these group stages is balancing the demands of the midweek games and then the league games on a Sunday.

It's tended to be a big challenge in the past, but they'll take that right now. It's not only £5m, but it's the prestige of playing in the Confidence League after some really difficult results.

Hearts are the first team through to the Conference League thanks to a nail-biting shootout triumph over Austria Vienna.

The Tynecastle side, who will play in the competition proper for the third time in five years, find out their opponents when the draw takes place at 12:00 BST on Friday.

Hearts are projected to be in pot four - with the 36 teams split into six pots - after taking a circuitous route to the league phase, playing six qualifiers across three competitions - and winning none.

They are the first non-Old Firm side to reach European competition proper since Aberdeen's Europa League campaign in 2007.

Image source, Getty

We asked for your views after Hearts reached the Conference League in fine style, beating Rapid Vienna on penalties in Austria after a 4-4 aggregate draw.

Here are some of your comments:

Martin: What a night. What a long way to have come in such a short time, hats off the the manager. This team is shaping up to be something really special. Passports out for Friday's draw.

Matty G: Stunning performance! The second-half performance deserved the result and a special mention to Calvin Miller, absolute warrior.

Robert: Every single Hearts player involved, take a bow, and the manager of course. Loving the way he sets the team out, no matter who we play. That must be up there with the best European wins in Hearts history.

Timi: The magnitude of this victory should be a kick up the backside to other teams in Scottish football to prove that it can be done. We were falling apart come the end but these gladiators don't know when they are beaten. They deserve every single inch of that victory.

Chris: One of the worst 45 minutes I've watched followed by one of the best 75! This is why we love football. With - arguably - nine men against a solid Rapid team and shocking referee we took Scottish football under our wing and delivered one of the most impressive results for some time! Ecstatic.

Ian: Derek who? Wouter is a real upgrade for a club like Hearts who can't cover up poor recruitment with excess cash.

Mark: Considering what Hearts and their fans had to endure at the end of last season this result and Conference phase football is richly deserved. Vrancken football is not only entertaining, it has produced one of Hearts' biggest results in years.

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Hearts couldn't resist a thinly-veiled dig at Celtic after heroically sealing a place in the Conference League.

By overcoming play-off opponents Rapid Vienna on penalties despite Tomas Magnusson's 76th-minute red card, the Tynecastle side succeeded in a country where Celtic had failed the previous evening.

Celtic, having pipped Hearts to the Premiership title on the final day last season, are reeling from squandering a four-goal lead at LASK to tumble out of the Champions League.

As Hearts put it in their social media post: "Winning play-offs in Austria isn't for everyone..."

Image source, Getty Images

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken: "Amazing, amazing.

"When you see the game, we played a really bad first half, a little bit similar as we did in Benfica.

"We made agreements, we had a game plan, and we didn't follow up, we didn't show the guts to follow up.

"When you play against a side like Rapid Vienna, when you don't show it, they can play through you.

"We were already pretty angry at half-time, and we came out, we did much better. We took the game in our hands, we were dominant at that moment.

"This is already a mental strength, coming back on 1-0 down and coming back like this.

"I think they have to learn that they're a good team, that they're good players, that they can show it and show the guts every time, every week, every game again.

"Because in the last away games in Europe, you see that they're a little bit scared to do things, to take risks or to give spaces away. Then we don't play our game.

"You saw it two times. But again, the development of the team, the progress of the team is amazing. The team spirit, like you said, I saw it from the first session already.

"Coming together and all those new things, they went into it, they want to learn it.

"They wanted to have feedback, they want to go into it and the kind of football we played. This is the result, they get rewarded, and I'm so happy for them.

"And I think we can make more steps in the coming weeks and hope that we can take the steps as soon as possible, but the work ethic that the players put into it, I'm really proud to work with this group."

Beau Reus' brilliant penalty shootout saves secured 10-man Hearts Conference League progress as they fought back to defeat Rapid Vienna after an enthralling play-off second leg.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Blair Spittal is on a mission to take care of Conference League unfinished business by beating Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital tonight.

The midfielder was part of the Tynecastle team that failed to make the knockout rounds two years ago despite winning their opening two league-phase fixtures.

Hearts' hopes of making it through the play-off are on a knife-edge after last week's 2-2 first-leg draw.

"It feels like unfinished business because we didn't get through it," Spittal said.

"I think 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. If we can go through, we can definitely advance to the next round."

Hearts came from a goal down at Tynecastle last week, with James McPake levelling before teenage striker James Wilson's spectacular goal gave the hosts a shortlived lead.

Spittal expects a similar type of game in the Austrian capital but knows Hearts must be tighter in defence.

"We'd like to keep their chances to a minimum," he added.

"We've got the capability to score goals, I think you can see that in the last couple of weeks. You can see the progress in the team, so the main thing is that we go out and put on a performance

"They were a good team, they were obviously different than Sturm Graz, more possession-based and wanted to play more passes and play with more tempo.

"I thought once we came to grips with the first half, it was a wee bit cagey from our point of view and there are things we could have done a lot better. But in the second half, we came out and took the game to them."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Wednesday night's Conference League play-off round second leg against Rapid Vienna.

Here are the main points:

• Vrancken says he has a difficult decision to make regarding the striker position after James Wilson's stunning goal in the first leg last week.

• The Hearts coach says it will be "no risk" in playing summer signing Laurent Mendy as the medical staff says he is now ready if required.

• He expects a "special atmosphere" inside the ground and described this as a "massive game" for both teams so there will be pressure.

• Vrancken says the team have been practising penalties "for the last few weeks" should the game go all the way.

• He expects new signing JJ Williams to be ready to play from this weekend as he already has 18 games under his belt this season for Rhode Island.

• Vrancken knows Rapid Vienna are "a good side with a lot of intensity and good build-up" but admits "the players feel we can also be the dominant team".

• The Hearts boss says "we may be the underdog on paper but that doesn't say anything" and adds: "When you show conviction and really believe in what you're doing, leave it all out there, then anything can happen."

• He says Hearts are "of the strong belief that we have a chance to reach the league phase" but knows "it will require a lot of effort and quality".

• And the 47-year-old stresses progressing to the league phase would "be a massive result for confidence for the players but also for the whole club".

• Vrancken insists "we have to be on top of our qualities and team effort to make the result" and stresses "the conviction is there, we just have to show it on the pitch".

Image source, Getty

American forward JJ Williams says he had sleepless nights as his protracted Hearts move concluded and is now dreaming of scoring at Tynecastle.

Hearts have boosted their striker options by signing the 6ft 4in forward from Rhode Island on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

"It's a dream come true for me, honestly," William told HeartsTV.

"I was hoping this deal would have been done a long time ago but the fact that I'm here, I'm getting immersed in the culture, I'm getting to experience a lot of the history that's Hearts.

"There is no place I'd rather be. It's the only club that I'm worried about and thinking about.

"I just want to take that big step. For so many years, I've been looking to get out of the States and it's just how everything happened for me to do it now.

"So I'm beyond blessed and happy to be here."

The 28-year-old leaves the USL Championship club after netting 30 goals and providing 13 assists in 79 games for the second-tier side.

The former Atlanta player had an impressive spell at Tampa Bay Rowdies before joining Rhode Island in 2024.

"I'm actually going to go to the museum after this and go check it out," he added.

"What I do realise is that you're playing for more than just a game, what it means to people and that's what I can't wait to play for. These are the people that I can't wait to play for.

"I'm going to struggle to sleep tonight. Whenever I got in, I've been struggling to sleep because I've been thinking of scoring goals in front of the fans for the last five or six days since I knew it was going to happen.

"I'm going to take pictures of it [Tynecastle] and just dream about this tonight."

Greg Playfair
Fan writer

The Conference League play-off second leg away to Rapid Vienna on Wednesday night feels like the very definition of a 50-50 tie.

Rapid could easily have been a couple of goals ahead last Thursday but for some smart saves from Beau Reus.

Even so, they looked very gettable during the first 30 minutes of the second half, and had Josh McPake not been forced off through injury, we might have gone on to win.

I'm not trying to downplay Rapid's quality, but from an attacking perspective, things do seem to be starting to click for Wouter Vrancken and his team.

Defensively, there is still a fragility, particularly when defending set-pieces - an area that was one of our strengths last season.

To progress, Hearts will need to summon the spirit of great European away nights gone by, like Basel in 2004, Bordeaux in 2003 or Austria Vienna in 1988.

I'm hoping this generation of Jambos can savour an away victory to remember for years to come. That said, I don't agree Wednesday's result is season defining.

For the Jamestown Analytics model to fully flourish, European league-phase football would undoubtedly make it easier to showcase players, but there is still plenty to look forward to domestically.

Winning a cup and finishing third would make this season a success, and the early signs suggest that could be achievable under Vrancken.

It is also the final full week of the transfer window and, while American striker JJ Williams and Faroese winger Aron Benjaminsen are reportedly set to join, moving on some fringe players could be just as important.

I swapped seats from my usual spot in the Gorgie Stand and was sitting near Sander Kartum, Elton Kabangu and Yan Dhanda. It feels imperative we move these guys on and create a clearer pathway for our academy prospects to get involved.

Last week, we witnessed one of the great European goals at Tynecastle when James Wilson unleashed a sublime 30-yard screamer. While I don't think there is a queue of youngsters at the Oriam ready to do that every week, Hearts clearly have a youth system producing enviable talent.

Involving these players more regularly, whether in training or matchday squads, can only help their development.

Faroe Islands Under-21 winger Aron Benjaminsen is on Hearts' wanted list and the Edinburgh club are favourites to sign the 18-year-old from Vikingur Gota. (Daily Record - subscription required, external)

Hearts have completed a deal for Benjaminsen, with a sell-on clause likely included in the deal. (Trondur Arge on X, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.