Eur in for a wake up call
Hearts................2 Crawley Town..2
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson believes the hard miles in a jam- packed pre- season schedule will prepare them for European showdowns.
A first-half double from Stephen Kingsley had the Jambos f lying before they hit the buffers after the break with Crawley’s Dom Telford bagging a brace.
Neilson felt his players were fatigued after arriving back early in the morning following their mid-week trip to Tranmere and they’ll do the same this week when they head to Preston before facing Stoke at Tynecastle.
But he knows the squad will need to cope with extensive travelling and the games that come thick and fast when Hearts’ Europa League campaign kicks off next month.
Neilson, who had new boy Kye Rowles on the bench, said: “I was actually pleased with the way it turned out.
“The reason we went to Tranmere, played the game at night and travelled back, getting to Oriam at four in the morning so it’s half five by the time you get to bed, was really to give the players an experience of what it’s going to be like in these European games.
“You travel abroad, have to fly back, getting back at three or four in the morning and then need to perform two days later in the league.
“Hopefully the players will have learned from that, how you recover properly, because we give them everything – advice to sleep, nutrition.
“But ult imately you need to find your own way to get yourself as close to 100 per cent as you can.”
Midfielder Aaron McEneff is edging towards a move to Perth Glory and Neilson said: “There’s been contact with the clubs and Aaron.”
Gary Mackay- Steven came close before Kingsley fired Hearts ahead from 25 yards then doubled the lead in 17 minutes from a Jorge Grant corner.
Telford halved the deficit as he tapped in from close range then curled home the leveller from 18 yards.