Hearts 0-1 Viktoria Plzen: Analysis

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

There was a lot of talk about how Hearts had to harness the atmosphere at a packed Tynecastle to frighten Plzen and turn this tie around.

It happened a year ago against Rosenborg.

You felt the old stadium was on edge again, waiting to get involved, but the team on the pitch barely gave them anything to empty their lungs for.

The same issues which have dogged their start to the season were evident again. A lack of tempo, pace, and width.

For the second game in a row, the introduction of Yutaro Oda on the right-hand side immediately improved things as his speed injected some life into their performance.

At that point the atmosphere did start to grow and Hearts looked the more likely to score, albeit without peppering the Plzen goal. But one breakaway cost them.

Last season's comfortable third-place Premiership finish was based on good defending and Lawrence Shankland firing in 31 goals, some of which he had no right to score.

In this campaign there has already been heavy rotation, multiple changes in formation, and it feels like Hearts are struggling for an identity.

That's now five defeats in a row and just two goals scored this season.

With a heavy schedule to come between now and Christmas, manager Steven Naismith needs to find solutions quickly.