SAMMON GOAL IS A NET GAIN AND LIFT-OFF ON EURO TRAIL
CONOR SAMMON confessed to a sense of frustration after seeing the assistant referee’s flag cost him what looked a perfectly good goal against Birkirkara in last week’s Europa League tie.
Sammon is searching for his first strike in Hearts colours but remains confident the Tynecastle club can finish the job in Edinburgh on Thursday night — and expressed his desire to provide a shot in the arm for Scottish football.
The big Irishman showed quick reactions and superb composure to latch on to a Prince Buaben pass after just three minutes in Malta before slipping the ball past Birkirkara goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric.
However, he was adjudged to have strayed into an offside position — a sign of things to come for Hearts during a frustrating goalless stalemate in which they dominated but simply could not find the breakthrough.
Sammon’s disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that he has yet to score for the club since joining from Derby in the close season — but he is determined to put that right in the second leg.
‘I thought it was a good goal but I glanced over and saw the linesman with his flag up,’ he said. ‘I’ve looked at the video and it’s difficult to tell, but I still think I’m onside.
‘It is frustrating. You come in wanting to hit the ground running and you want to score as soon as you can. It’s just one of those things that sometimes go against you. We kept going but we couldn’t break the deadlock.
‘It would have been nice to get that away goal but we have lots of positives to take from the game.’
Hearts have plenty of cause for optimism following a professional performance in Malta that only lacked an away goal.
Sammon is confident they can finish the job on Thursday and make some positive headlines for a Scottish club in Europe.
‘It would be fantastic for Scottish football if we can keep progressing,’ he said. ‘Aberdeen won 3-0 (against Ventspils), which was a really good result.
‘Roll on Thursday night and, hopefully, we will do the business and progress to the next round.’