Midfielder Cammy Devlin is “devastated” after Heart of Midlothian missed out on the chance to put down a historic marker.

The Jambos fell to a 1-0 loss in Thursday night’s Europa League play-off second leg at Tynecastle Park to Viktoria Plzen. A lack of a final ball or a finishing touch in one box and a soft goal conceded in the other saw the Czechs take their place in the draw at the expense of Hearts thanks to a 2-0 aggregate success.

The achievements of last season meant that Steven Naismith’s side were always guaranteed European football into the winter and on Friday they learned who their Conference League opponents will be.

There are trips to face Danish giants Copenhagen and Belgian side Cercle Brugge, both defeated Kilmarnock in Euro qualifiers this month. There is also an away match against Dinamo Minsk who have been playing behind closed doors in Hungary. At home, Hearts will face Heidenheim of Germany, Cypriot's Omonia Nicosia and Moldovan outfit Petrocub.

The excitement of that draw has been parked temporarily among the squad, according to Devlin, as Hearts lick their wounds from a fifth consecutive defeat.

The combative midfielder is instead focused on Sunday’s crucial Scottish Premiership fixture at home to a Dundee United, unbeaten in the league so far, and recapturing their form from last season.

“One thing we are doing is we're working so hard,” said Devlin. “I feel like, obviously, the feel around it is negative and rightly so. We haven't won a game this season. But us as players, we're really feeling it. And we're working so, so hard to change things. At the training field we're going home, we're doing everything we can, recovering properly.

“You can't fault effort. That's not something you can fault. I feel like every player is putting their body on the line and working so hard. I know the coaching staff are doing everything they possibly can to prepare us the best way possible.

“Last year we were keeping clean sheets, which maybe we're not, letting silly goals go in.

“In the final third we're not scoring goals that we maybe would have. I think it's not fallen for us. At the end of the day, you can't feel sorry for yourself.

“You've got to just roll your sleeves up and be men. When you're at a football club like Hearts, you've got to show up when it really matters. The next challenge is Sunday and we know how big a game that is.”

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It was another disheartening night for the Gorgie faithfull who again turned up in their numbers. At points the noise from the Tynecastle stands reached a crescendo to match those of past European successes.

Understandably, it wasn’t sustained as, on the pitch, Hearts’ chances of progression to the Europa League proper fizzled out.

That was met with fans venting their anger as the game entered the final stages.

“We're all with them because we're just as frustrated as them,” he said. “I completely understand. But especially when we're at home there, the support we get when we play away is amazing. It's a massive football club and with a massive fan base. That's something we're so grateful for, especially when it's going good. It's such a good place to come here and feel that.

“It's up to us to give them something to cheer about. We completely take that full responsibility. We'll need to be doing that Sunday. We need to win that football game. But just stay with us because we're doing everything we can and we've got full belief and confidence that we'll turn it around.

“I've missed that win and feeling. There's nothing like it. Winning a game of football is the best feeling in the world. It doesn't matter how we win. It would be really good for us as players, for the coach and staff, for the club to just get that win and feeling back for the fans to go back to the pubs after a game with a win and heading into the international break.

“I think whether you've won five in a row or you've lost five in a row, it's important to go into the break with a win. We'll be doing everything in our power to make that happen. Fingers crossed we can.”