Heart of Midlothian fans have already begun their journey home following a strong performance but ultimately heartbreaking result against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League play-off.

Some took the night bus back to Prague after the game. Others are set to make a weekend of it in the Czech capital before heading straight to Fir Park on Sunday. Then there are those who have connections all over Europe to return to Edinburgh, Manchester and elsewhere.

Nearly 700 crammed into the away end of the Doosan Arena and sang for 90 minutes, backing the players on the pitch. Players who put in a spirited display following back-to-back poor results only to be undone by a late own goal meaning the team will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit at Tynecastle Park next week.

Joel Sked picks out some interesting tidbits from the game and last few days in Plzen:

Shorts colour

Hearts took to the pitch in their custard cream away top. A strip that is already viewed as cursed by some fans with it having been worn for the defeats to Dundee and Falkirk. There was a difference for the match with Viktoria Plzen, the team wore white rather than maroon shorts.

The reason is simple. The maroon shorts were viewed as too much of a colour clash with Viktoria Plzen's red home shorts.

Rudi Skacel

Hearts were in the homeland of a number of former players. Roman Bednar, Michael Pospisil, Ludek Straceny, Bobby Zlamal and, of course, Rudi Skacel, one of the finest foreign players to pull on the maroon and white.

The visiting support celebrated the fact with a prolonged period of singing about the left-footed assassin and his goal-scoring ability.

Viktoria Plzen boos

At times it was like Hearts were playing at the SMiSA Stadium. The home crowd loved a moan and groan. They complained incessantly about Hearts players gaining yards at throw-ins or Craig Gordon taking his time over goal kicks. It didn't take long for boos and whistles to engulf the ground.

Steven Naismith was asked very matter-of-factly by a Czech journalist if the perceived time wasting was a reason for the team losing late in stoppage time. Miroslav Koubek, the Viktoria Plzen manager, said he knew Hearts would time waste. As the interpreter gave the answer he interjected to make sure he also praised Hearts for their performance. Something he probably wouldn't have done it they hadn't won the game late on.

The win was clearly important for Plzen. Long after the full-time whistle, the players were still on the pitch celebrating with the club's ultras behind the goal. Hearts subs - both those who featured and unused - came back onto the pitch for a cool down. When they ran down to the Plzen it was met by a loud chorus of boos. Only when the Hearts players began to jog back toward the away support did the Plzen support return to their celebrations.

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Celtic top

One of the more bizarre aspects of the game was a fan in the main stand wandering around with a Celtic top. The 2004/05 home kit to be more precise. The ability for Celtic tops to pop up everywhere is quite something. He was too far from the away end to notice and therefore not be on the receiving end of some stick.

Away trip

It has been one of the quieter away trips with Hearts fans not filling up Plzen until the day of the game. There were a smattering of Jambos on Tuesday night and it was more noticeable on Wednesday but it wasn't until Thursday that everywhere you walked there was someone wearing something Hearts-related. Many fans travelled out on the day of the game or based themselves in Prague before travelling the hour, by bus or car, to Plzen.

The city itself is lovely and very peaceful. But it does have a wide range of pubs and bars which is expected considering it is the home of Pilsner Urquell. Not to forget the price of beer (a round of five beers would get you a pint and a half in many Edinburgh establishments).

The English-speaking brewery tours on Wednesday were filled with Jambos learning about the city's famous export, getting a sample and even having a sing-song in the cellar of the brewery. On one tour, when the tour guide announced what 'Cheers!' is in Czech (Na zdravi) as she toasted the free beer, one fan provided an example of a Hearts toast: 'F*** the Hibs'.