There were positives with Rogers Mato digging in to preform well against former Liverpool legend, Mo Salah.

Earlier, Hearts named this line-up in Turkey: Reus, Borchgrevink, McCart, Miller, Braga, Guendouz, Wison, Magnusson, Altena, Fagan-Walcott, Mato. Subs: Clark, Fulton, Kingsley, Williams, Kabore, McPake, Kerjota, Pollock, Stevenson, Mendy

The Jambos took the field in this UEFA Europa Conference League clash after news that Harry Milne could be sidelined for months with a knee injury, and Borchgrevink tested the home goalkeeper, Andre Onana, with a long shot from the right which produced a corner.

From the set-piece Fagan-Walcott found himself at the edge of the six-yard box and he headed the ball against the right-hand upright, a real scare for the Turkish combine.

Carbral was booked for standing on the foot of Borchgrevink and then Braga headed for goal from the resulting free kick. The home side’s Cameroon-born home goalkeeper, who formerly played for Manchester United, saved comfortably.

Then Miller was yellow-carded for a foul as Hearts edged possession but Trabzon won two quick corners on the right after an appeal from home fans for a penalty when Altena allegedly handled in the box from a Salah cross. VAR was called in and the noise in the stadium was deafening as the players waited for the outcome.

Hearts were off the hook as Salah was given offside in the build-up. A relief for the visitors.

Then Hearts survived another penalty scare when Cabral fell in the box with Borchgrevink in close attendance. Again, the claim was waved aside.

Vrancken spoke out after Borchgrevink’s jersey was tugged by Mimaroglu and he was added to the Belgian referee’s notebook then Fagan-Walcott made a timely tackle as the home side bore down on the Jambos goal.  

And, after 29 minutes, Magnusson made a clumsy challenge on Dju in the box and Salah did what Saah does best, keeping his cool to stroke the ball home down the middle with Reus diving to his left. It was his tenth goal since moving from Liverpool.

These were key moments for Hearts as Trabzon looked for more, but it was Hearts who threatened next as Onana flapped at a free-kick but the Jambos failed to take advantage.

Akaydin joined the others in the notebook after felling Wilson and Fagan-Walcott was soon to limp as half-time approached with the Men in Maroon still in the game against the Super-Lig side.

Borchgrevink was next to hold his leg after a tackle on Saviolo near the right touchline. Frustration was etched on his face as he limped off looking as if he was not coming back.

Miller moved back from his berth on the right wing to cover and the ball was like a ping pong in the Hearts box before Kingsley was introduced into the patch-work defence.

Hearts had a real scare when Salah sent Dju away and his shot was blocked by Reus. Braga then went down in the box when Kabasakal made a heavy tackle into the back of the Portugal-born player. The referee waved play on.

The play switched to the other end and Belgian-born Bouchouari brought the best out of Reus who got a strong hand to the shot and the ball was clear, but Hearts were living dangerously as five minutes of injury time was intimated.

Hearts found space and Fagan-Walcott fed Braga whose lay-off was poor then Mato then failed to find a telling ball when another opportunity presented. Wilson had the final say when he was fed inside the box, but the teenager had his back to goal and was unable to turn and test Onana.

Hearts limited Trabzon to long shots early in the second period and they broke with Wilson just unable to latch onto a through ball. They were punished when the ball was sent to Salah. He fed Dju and both showed great quality. Salah played a one-two with Dju and the Guinea-Bissau forward slotted with his left foot, prodding the ball home and giving Reus no chance for 2-0 after 57 minutes.

The home side introduced three subs, and Salah was one of the players who exited proceedings, while McPake, Kerjota and JJ Williams awaited their entry for Guendouz, Miller and Wilson as Hearts attempted to breach the team with the best defensive record in Turkish football.

It as the home side who continued to threaten and Saviola forced a save out of Reus before, in a rare breakaway, McPake screwed a shot wide of the left-hand post.

Trabzon made two more changes and they forced a corner as five minutes of additional time was confirmed and McPake was yellow-carded before the kick as taken, but the danger was cleared and Kabore came on for Braga.

The final incident of note was when Cabral was shown the red card after catching Kerjota inside the final seconds of injury time.