Viktoria Plzen manager Miroslav Koubek congratulated Heart of Midlothian for their performance in the Europa League play-off round tie - but claimed he knew the team would waste time.

The Czech side take a 1-0 lead to Tynecastle Park for the second leg thanks to a stoppage-time own goal from Daniel Oyegoke.

"In general we played very well," Koubek said. "I can only congratulate my players apart from a five-minute period in which we allowed two or three chances to Hearts.

"We knew they would start very defensively and support the middle part of the pitch with three more players. We were aware of this so we changed tactics when Vasulin tired and started to play on the counterattack. This one goal is better than no goals, we have a better chance than if we had a draw."

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There was a feeling amongst the home support that Hearts were slowing the match down. Steven Naismith was asked by a Czech journalist if it contributed to his side's loss.

Koubek had his say on the situation and supported the view that Hearts did delay the game at times.

“We knew Hearts would play defensively and they would waste time, I told my players at half-time to be patient and they would be rewarded, and they were," he said.

“I would like to give credit to Hearts, they played very well. They showed good quality and it is not by chance they are the third team in the Scottish Premiership."

Plzen will now look to finish the job at Tynecastle Park and they have no plans to sit in and defend their lead.

“We must be proactive in our play because in their stadium with 20,000 it will be very difficult," Koubek said. "We must defend well but be good going forward.”