Wouter Vrancken disappointed with result as Hearts held by Nordsjaelland

Wouter Vrancken rued Hearts’ failure to kick off their Conference League campaign with a victory after Nordsjaelland struck a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw in an entertaining encounter at Tynecastle.

The Jambos went ahead through Oisin McEntee’s close-range finish in the 33rd minute and had several chances to add to their lead.

But they lost their way in the closing quarter of the match and Nordsjaelland, fourth in the Danish Superliga, claimed a point through a deflected strike from Nicklas Rojkjaer.

Vrancken felt his side played well enough to come away with more than a point.

“For sure, disappointment that we didn’t take three points when you see the first 70 minutes,” he said. “We were really good.

“I was really happy with the performance actually because this first 70 minutes we were dominant on the ball and also without the ball.

“We were dominant, aggressive also. I’m really happy to see that we could do it against this side because we know how strong they are, so it was a real disappointment to lose the goal when we did.

“But again, also there, in the first 70 minutes, we have to finish the game on this same level. We created good occasions, good chances so then we have to score more than one goal also.

“Our defence looked really good, they were really fighting, and they did very good also in the construction and the build-up also.

“We fought hard to compete on this stage and we want to show ourselves there. I have to say the team showed themselves today, that’s for sure.”

Vrancken admitted Hearts faded in the closing stages as he expressed disappointment at the energy levels of substitutes Sabah Kerjota and JJ Williams.

“I expect a bit more from subs when they come on, to give the energy, to hold the ball or to hold off the pressure, and to show something more,” he said.

“They have done it already a few times before, and we didn’t have to complain about this until now.

“Now, when you do a substitution, you expect more energy than there was at that moment, and it wasn’t like that.

“But again, it’s also for those guys a learning process and seeing that when the team needs you, you have to put yourself there.”

Vrancken revealed Claudio Braga was replaced by Williams in order to avoid a second yellow card after being booked early on, although the Portuguese forward was visibly frustrated at being taken off.

“He pulled a shirt already two times, so we couldn’t take the risk, because I knew that the next little fault was for sure a second card,” said the manager.

“He said, like, ‘I could still keep my mind on the game’, but after the game, he said, like, ‘Yeah, coach, you were right’.”