Paulo Sergio forced to rethink as best-laid plans washed away

The headaches at Hearts this week have not belonged solely to harassed members of staff at the ticket office. Manager Paulo Sergio is already battling frustration as the problems pile up ahead of a frantic fortnight for the Tynecastle club.

The weather has been an additional hindrance prior to tomorrow's home league clash against Aberdeen and has further disrupted a difficult week. Hearts suffered a 1-0 loss at Motherwell on Sunday and remain on only one point - collected on the opening day of the season at Ibrox - from three league games. "It has not been ideal," said Sergio. "This should have been a good week to work, but so many people are injured and others went with their national teams."

Sergio has also had to cope without Danny Grainger, with the full-back having been allowed time-off as his wife prepares to give birth. David Templeton, Adrian Mrowiec and Jamie Hamill have all been receiving treatment for knocks this week but should be able to feature tomorrow, having taken part in a light training session on Wednesday.

"It has not been ideal but we have worked, we have tried to put our ideas in place," added Segio, who has had a quick introduction to a Scottish-style summer. "Today we can't practice because we have had two days of solid rain and the pitches are covered in water. So it is a difficult time. You have to fight. If you sit and cry about the situation that won't change it. You have to believe in yourself and fight every day and work. If you can work you can change things, but if you can't work it becomes more difficult. But there are things we can't control."

A silver lining on the several dark clouds hanging over Riccarton yesterday is the prospect of the up-coming Europa League play-off clash with Tottenham Hotspur, the first leg of which is on Thursday. Tynecastle is all a quiver at the prospect of a visit from last season's Champions League quarter-finalists. However, the pragmatic Sergio is only thinking about tomorrow's league clash, and Hearts taking the chance to get back to winning ways prior to the challenge of facing Spurs.

Extra significance was plied on the encounter with the English side when it was announced yesterday that Spurs' opening Premier League fixture against Everton tomorrow had been postponed. It means Tynecastle now counts as the London side's first competitive fixture of the season.

It also robs Sergio of the opportunity to spy on Spurs before the European clash, with the manager having hoped to be able to watch footage of the clash with Everton. A member of the Hearts backroom staff had also been primed to attend the match at White Hart Lane."There is no talk about Spurs, just Aberdeen," said Sergio, who appreciated Craig Brown taking the time to welcome him to Scotland prior to the European match with Paksi SE. "I can learn from him and the others," said Sergio. "I don't think I know everything. I am sure I have things to learn from him and the other managers." He intends to show Brown every respect prior to tomorrow's match. It has meant placing the clash with Spurs on the back-burner.

"Seriously, I haven't thought about it, and I haven't spoken about it with my players," stressed Sergio. "I am doing what I have to do, I am making observations. If I don't go to see them this week then I might not see them before Thursday's game.

"I am not talking about Tottenham right now. The players are focused on Aberdeen because it is our next game."

This comment was slightly undermined by a huddle of players in the corridor outside seeking to establish just how many briefs they each were permitted for the Spurs match. However, few could expect such a glamour tie to remain unremarked on just a week before the first clash.

Like Spurs, Ian Black will be inactive this weekend after collecting a red card against Motherwell last weekend for a late challenge, and he is now suspended for two league games. Despite Hearts' decision not to appeal the decision, Sergio backed his player yesterday. "I spoke with Ian, but I should say I don't want to criticise anybody," he said. "What happened last week was normal and I don't think Ian deserved the red card, although I accept at that moment it could have caused that impression. It looked like a dangerous situation but if you watch it again on TV you can see the ball was there and Ian was trying to touch the ball. Last weekend and this weekend will be the same. The pitches are wet and it is dangerous when you tackle someone."

This quality is not one of Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov's traits. Sergio was asked about the pressure of working under the Lithuania-based businessman, particularly given his reported wish for his manager to deliver a league title to the club.

Such a notion could be said to have been made to look all the more absurd after the start made by Hearts in the league this season. They have just one goal to show for their efforts.

"He didn't say it would have to happen this year," said Sergio, with reference to the championship. "But we can start work. We will fight every week."