Hearts will be going all out for a famous Europa Conference League win against Fiorentina at Tynecastle tonight.
Robbie Neilson has named the side he thinks can cause a shock and take real control of their destiny in a bid to reach the knockout stages of Europe's third tier competition. The Jambos head into this one in second spot in the group after an away day win at group fourth seeds RFS in Riga. Lawrence Shankland and Alan Forrest both netted that night to get off the mark in the competition.
The visitors have picked up just one point from the opening two games and will be determined to put things right in Gorgie but with the home supporters out in force at a packed out Tynecastle - it is certain to be an electric atmosphere. It was a domestic day to forget for Hearts at the weekend with Rangers hitting them for four after losing Cammy Devlin to a red card. But that result is now in the past and full focus is on this massive game.
READ MORE: Hearts boss Robbie Neilson relishing 'very famous' Fiorentina clash as he bills game 'huge' for club
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Speaking ahead of this one, Neilson said: “It’s a massive game for the football club. To have a very famous Serie A club come to Tynecastle under the lights is huge for us,” he told the press in his pre-match media conference.
“We know that we have to bring our best game. It’s going to be a great spectacle and one that we’re very excited about. Tomorrow is a game where we’d like to get three points. Everyone is available except from Halkett, at the moment.
“I think Riga was a hugely important win for us. It had been a long time since the club had won a European game. To pick up three points is massive because it gives us a lift going into the next games. It gives us the belief that we can compete at this level.
“It’s going to be tough. Fiorentina are very aggressive in the press. Italian football, over the last number of years, has changed quite a bit. It’s gone from catenaccio, sitting in and defending, to throwing themselves forward and being so exciting to watch.
"It’s up to us to find a way to combat that. We’ve been working on a few things, and hopefully we can take something from the game.”
Hearts XI: Gordon, Smith, Neilson, Kingsley, Cochrane, Grant, Kiomourtzoglou, Halliday, Ginnelly, Shankland, McKay
Subs: Stewart, Clark, Haring, Mackay-Steven, Atkinson, Devlin, Forrest, Sibbick, Henderson, Smith, Humphrys
READ NEXT:
- Craig Halkett out of Hearts' European clash with Fiorentina in blow to Robbie Neilson's side
- Josh Ginnelly in Hearts rally cry as he makes '100 per cent' Europa Conference League prediction
- Robbie Neilson wants Hearts 'pace and energy' vs Fiorentina as game plan set for Serie A outfit
