Hearts manager Paulo Sergio could not hide his disappointment after a comprehensive defeat to Tottenham.
Hearts boss hopes players learn from Thursday's Tynecastle thumping
Upset Hearts manager Paulo Sergio could not hide his disappointment after a comprehensive defeat to Tottenham in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.
Last season's third-placed team in the SPL were taken apart by Harry Redknapp's Tottenham, who finished fifth in the 2010/11 Premier League, in a 5-0 victory for the English club.
Spurs were 3-0 in front at half-time and Sergio had some stern words for his players, however, he took some solace from an improved performance after the break.
He told Hearts'
official website: "I am so sad, but I am pleased that the team showed a different side in the second half.
"The first half was just awful. It was like someone had bought a ticket to watch Tottenham pass the ball, just watching the ball, without pressure. Allowing them to run into empty spaces is just so dangerous."
Sergio now hopes his players learn from their mistakes ahead of Sunday's SPL match at Kilmarnock and next Thursday's trip to White Hart Lane.
Gulf in class
He said: "Perhaps they'll go home and think about what happened, and learn from how their opponents played. However, they have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.
"The players are clever and intelligent guys, and they'll know this is important. We must learn from this, and quickly."
Hearts winger Andrew Driver admitted the gulf in class between his side and Tottenham at Tynecastle was a shock to the system.
"It was so disappointing," he said. "You look forward to the game for so long and to let the goal in so early killed the atmosphere and it was a struggle from there.
"I think you saw a massive gulf in class. It's a huge step-up.
"We knew it was going to be tough and we went in with a game plan to try to cancel out the gulf in class but obviously it didn't go to plan.
"Every time you saw them on the break they looked so dangerous."
