Tynecastle goalkeeping plan paid off in Austria

Beau Reus became a bona fide Hearts legend in Vienna on Wednesday night. Two brilliant saves in the euphoric penalty-shootout win over Rapid, plus some vital saves during the previous 120 minutes, again proved the Dutch goalkeeper’s quality. He can now anticipate UEFA Conference League football with his name already etched in folklore just weeks into his Tynecastle career.

Reus is reluctant to divulge details of exactly how he stopped penalties from Moulaye Haidara and Marco Tilio, but it stems from a subtle signalling system devised by goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall. He stood in the Hearts technical area holding two plastic training markers during the shootout. One red, one yellow. As each Rapid player stepped forward to approach the spot and face Reus, Marshall held one of the markers aloft. Red told Reus to dive one way, yellow the other. The ploy worked beautifully.

Marshall himself only joined Hearts in June. Before Wednesday night’s tie, he spent time with Reus studying Rapid’s players and how they take penalties. All eventualities were covered. The sight of Marshall launching those two bits of plastic into the air as Reus saved Tilio’s shot to win the game summed up the raw emotion as Hearts celebrated play-off success and reaching the league phase. The joy of a man delighted with his night’s work.

Reus was fairly pleased, too. “I have no words - and it's not often that I don't have words. What a special night,” said the keeper. “If you see the game, how it went and also with the 10 men, it was just a crazy, crazy night to never forget. Just the start of the game was already my biggest game yet and then how it went. You have to manage a really special game to go a step higher than this one. We just discussed with the other two goalies and the goalkeeper coach, what we're going to do if it was penalties. We stuck with the plan and I’m happy that I managed to save two.”

He didn’t want to elaborate much beyond that. “No, because if we have penalties in the future, then all the guys will know the tactic,” he smiled. “We studied them really well. We were just afraid that if we write them down, that someone would take the bottle of water [with the information on it]. They were smart. They had a guy behind the goal and he showed the other goalkeeper where to go just before he had to stand in goal. That's one tactic. But if you play away, I don't think it's very nice to have the guy who stands there in front of the people who are behind the goal.”

Rapid fans behind the goal did their best to create an intimidating din, but Hearts simply refused to be overawed. “Sometimes with the goalkeeper, they throw some stuff like some beers. But it's nice if you play away and the guys scream at you. I don't mind. As long as they don't hit me with batteries and stuff, it's okay.”

Those two stops are the biggest of 24-year-old Reus’ career. “Yeah, with no doubt. I said to the guys, when I saved the second one, I didn't remember to wait for a moment to check if the referee was agreeing,” he explained. “I screamed so hard. I think my head almost exploded! The feeling is just....you cannot imagine how I feel. And also for the people who came here. I think if you heard them before the game, in the game, I think it's for them also a really special night to never forget the fans who come with us.”

Even when Tomas Magnusson was sent off on 76 minutes, Reus did not doubt Hearts had the resolve to succeed. “In the second half, we were good in the game. We played well. It was just bad luck, I think. I didn't see the video yet, back, but bad luck to take the second yellow and the red. Then you know it will be difficult, but no, I never lost faith one second in a game. The changing room was one big party. My stuff was all wet because guys threw water everywhere. We had to take the wet stuff on the bus but I don’t care.”

Hearts players couldn’t party too hard with St Johnstone due at Tynecastle on Saturday. They can, though, enjoy the thought of European games through to Christmas. “Saturday will be around the corner very soon. As nice as this evening is, you have to be yourself on Saturday again and try to win that game also. It will be difficult after such a high, but we give everything on Saturday and we have to stand there again. I don't like beer, anyway. Maybe something else,” smirked Reus. “I’m not someone who steps on the pitch thinking: ‘Oh, it's nice to be here.’ Every time we step on the pitch, we want to win. It's the same for this competition. You want to advance as far as possible. We will see who we get. I’m really excited for the games.”