PRAGUE TRIP IS JAMBOS' CONSOLATION

By Jamie Gardner, PA Sport

Hearts will play Sparta Prague in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

The Jambos were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers in midweek by AEK Athens to parachute into the UEFA Cup.

Hearts will play at Murrayfield in the second leg, scheduled for September 28, after travelling to the Czech Republic a fortnight earlier.

Jambos head coach Valdas Ivanauskas has warned his team to be wary of the strength in Czech Republic football.

The tie will offer former Sparta striker Michal Pospisil a return to his old club along with Czech forward Roman Bednar.

Ivanauskas said: "I know Sparta Prague from years ago and we all know how strong Czech football and they are.

"They have been champions many times and are very technical and physically strong.

"Every team is difficult and, maybe, it was a good draw, but we will have to wait until after the second leg to find out."

Hearts have had mixed fortunes against clubs from the Czech Republic. They defeated Sparta's local rivals, Slavia Prague, at the same stage of the tournament 14 years ago.

But the Jambos were beaten by Dukla Prague in a penalty shoot-out in the UEFA Cup first round in the 1986-1987 season.

Scottish clubs do not have a good record against Czech teams, however, suffering 10 defeats from 15 ties in European competition.

Taken from sportinglife.com