Robbie Neilson watched Hearts’ Europa Conference League marketing campaign finish with a 3-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir then appeared ahead to having one other go in Europe once more subsequent season.
In the ultimate Group A fixture within the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium, and with no possibilities of development, the Jambos fell behind to a Youssouf Ndayishimiye header from a nook after 4 minutes earlier than Serdar Gurler added a second within the thirty third minute following a mistake by keeper Craig Gordon.
Substitute Berkay Ozcan drove in a 3rd within the sixty fourth minute earlier than Hearts defender Nathaniel Atkinson scored a comfort for the guests within the ninetieth minute.
Hearts, with six factors from their two video games in opposition to Latvian aspect RFS, completed third in Group A behind Basaksehir and Fiorentina and boss Neilson instructed HeartsTV: “It has been a great adventure, a massive learning curve for everyone and hopefully we can implement that next year by getting ourselves into third position (in the cinch Premiership) and try to get back into group stage football again.
“Tonight was a difficult one. We were playing against an extremely good team who topped the group and who beat Fiorentina 3-0 here.
“I expect them to progress pretty far in this competition.
“I thought the players equipped themselves really well. They worked hard, we didn’t create a lot of chances and when they did come we probably didn’t make the right decision.
“We lost three really poor goals, goals you can’t lose at this level but I was pleased to get the goal at the end, it gave the fans something to shout about and enjoy and hopefully they have a fantastic night in Istanbul.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk