Frankie McAvoy hailed Hearts fans as the team's 12th man after a come-from-behind win over Rosenborg at a raucous Tynecastle Park to progress to the Conference League play-off against PAOK.
Despite an early loss of a goal, the home team rallied with a goal from Lawrence Shankland and a second-half brace from Cammy Devlin to win 3-2 on aggregate.
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions at the side of the pitch," he said. “We lose an early goal, which wasn’t ideal if I’m honest with you. And we looked a little tentative at the beginning, I don't know if the occasion got to some of us. But character sums up the team. We came back, 3-1 down on aggregate, to win 4-3 on the night and the players deserve immense credit.
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"The Ultras behind the goal really make it a big occasion in Scottish football and it is great to see because the fans really make it here. I can't speak highly enough of them. They drove us on and that's fantastic. Everyone talks about cliches of a 12th man, they were that tonight."
McAvoy expressed his delight at the performance of Cammy Devlin, describing as a "fantastic young player", while noting the role of Shankland who delivered a captain's display.
"I thought first half he was magnificent and leading the line is not easy," McAvoy. "They are a good team, they are expansive and came here to play. They've got some excellent midfielders and good wide midfielders but he was fantastic for us tonight. He has been since we've come in. A fantastic talisman.
"He scored a great go to get us back in the tie. I think you could tell the atmosphere within the stadium changed and it probably rocked them a wee bit if I'm honest. I can't speak highly enough of him, he's been fantastic for us."
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