Heart of Midlothian travel to Turkey to face Trabzonspor in their UEFA Europa Conference League group stage opener this Thursday. The match at Papara Park kicks off at 17:45 local time and comes just days after a sobering 7-1 Premiership defeat at Celtic Park.
The 7-1 loss, which featured an own goal and a consolation strike from Laurent Mendy, leaves Heart of Midlothian eight points behind leaders Celtic. Their recent form reads one win, two draws and two losses from their last five outings across all competitions. The team's overall league record stands at five wins, one draw and three losses.
Recent form and results
Heart of Midlothian' preparation has been mixed. Before the Celtic defeat, they drew 1-1 at home with Danish side FC Nordsjaelland in a friendly, with O. McEntee scoring. They also recorded a convincing 5-0 league win over St Mirren earlier this month. Their Turkish opponents, however, arrive in strong form, having thrashed Galatasaray 4-0 in the Süper Lig in their most recent competitive match.
The European challenge
The Conference League represents a fresh focus. Heart of Midlothian will be without the suspended Jamie McCart, who scored an own goal at Celtic Park, for the trip to Trabzon. Top scorer J. McPake, who has three goals this season, will be relied upon to lead the line. The team's next domestic engagement is a league fixture away to Motherwell on Sunday 25 October.
Attention then quickly turns back to domestic duties, with a Premiership fixture away to Motherwell scheduled for next Sunday. That match offers an immediate chance to solidify their top-three standing.
