Source: Team_Talk
Sergio seeks Hearts response
Paulo Sergio will emphasise the need for hard work after his side was outclassed by Tottenham in the Europa League play-off first leg.[LNB] Sergio has turned his attentions to Sunday's SPL trip to Kilmarnock and leave the analysis of Thursday night's match until prior to next week's return at White Hart Lane.[LNB]Spurs accelerated to a 3-0 lead after 28 minutes and added two more goals in the second half in a 5-0 success which all but sealed their passage to the group stages.[LNB]Sergio, who was appointed little more than two weeks ago, has now overseen two wins and two defeats in charge, but his biggest concern over last night's loss was the apparent willingness to let Spurs play.[LNB]"Even if you can't win, if you work hard you don't lose soft goals," he said.[LNB]"It's about what we should do now - work on what happened, improve and give a good answer in the next match.[LNB]"In football it's always like that."[LNB]Goals from Rafael van der Vaart, Jermain Defoe and Jake Livermore inside the opening half hour ended the tie as a contest before second-half strikes from Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon sealed a comprehensive success.[LNB]Sergio was satisfied with an improvement from his players in the second half and does not believe the stinging reverse to Spurs will have an adverse effect on the trip to Rugby Park.[LNB]"I think they reacted in the second half and I believe they're going to do the same (against Kilmarnock)," he added.[LNB]It has been a tough introduction for Sergio, who succeeded Jim Jefferies as boss prior to the previous Europa League clash with Hungary's Paks.[LNB]He is continuing to assess his squad while the games come thick and fast.[LNB]He added: "I learned about my players, I learn about them every day - like I said before, I'm having a pre-season in competition, so every day I'm learning about them.[LNB]"I'm seeing positive things in every one of them and I'm seeing negative things too.[LNB]"It's my job to pick those negative things and show to them what they are doing wrong to improve individually and collectively."[LNB]Assuming Andy Webster and David Obua show no ill effects from their returns from injury, Hearts should have the same squad to face Kilmarnock, minus the suspended Ian Black.[LNB]Black will serve the second of a two-match domestic ban, forcing another change in midfield.[LNB]While Hearts enter the contest on the back of a heavy loss, Killie go in on a high following the 4-1 win over Hibernian last weekend.[LNB]Sergio said: "The result they achieved was very good.[LNB]"Each game is a game. We shouldn't be worried. If they score four goals it's because they have quality.[LNB]"We know they have a good team and we have to be good to get a good result there."[LNB]Mehdi Taouil (groin) is likely to miss a return to Rugby Park, while Kevin Kyle (hip) and Calum Elliot (knee) remain long-term absentees.[LNB]
