Hearts vs Petrocub Prediction: Jambos to grind out a win

Hearts have a chance to book their place in the knockout stages of the Conference League if they can take care of Moldovan outfit Petrocub in Edinburgh.

The Jambos are on a three-game losing streak in continental competition after a fine start, but know that a win at Tynecastle will ensure them a place inside the top 24 qualification places in Europe's third tier competition. Read on for my Hearts vs Petrocub prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

The home side are set to be without the trio of Calem Nieuwenhof, Gerald Taylor and Stephen Kingsley, while Frankie Kent will be assessed after sitting out the weekend's Scottish Premiership defeat at 10-man Kilmarnock.

Ion Bors came off injured in Petrocub's defeat to Real Betis last time out and looks set to miss out for the trip to the Scottish capital, but otherwise boss Andrei Martin looks to have a full complement.

Hearts vs Petrocub Odds

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Hearts have gone in as strong 1/4 favourites to get back on track by winning this final group game. Petrocub are rank outsiders at 12/1 and the draw is trading at 9/2 for this Tynecastle tussle.

Both teams to score is 11/8, while over 2.5 goals can be backed at 8/11. Lawrence Shankland hit a recent brace in the 2-0 win over Dundee and is 3/1 to net the opener here.

Hearts to win and under 2.5 goals @ 21/10

This will be Hearts' 26th competitive outing of the season and the Jambos have only scored more than two goals in a game once, that coming in a 4-0 home win over St Mirren in the league back in October when they netted a couple of goals after the 86th minute.

That was Critchley's first game in charge and offered plenty of hope, as did the opening run of one loss in five games under the Englishman.

However, it is one win in eight since and the Jambos will be under a degree of pressure to get the win here and ensure they stay in this competition without needing mental gymnastics and favours from the teams behind them.

Petrocub don't score many, just two in five games, but they aren't shipping goals either. They were beaten 4-1 in their opening game, but have only conceded seven in four games since.

Their last two games were a 1-1 draw away at Istanbul Basaksehir and a 1-0 reverse at home to Real Betis. Hearts have only scored four goals in five games in this competition.

They should win but it could be grinding rather than blinding in style. 

Lawrence Shankland to score first @ 3/1

Hearts are struggling domestically, sitting bottom of the Scottish Premiership after just three wins in 17 attempts.

They've only scored 18 times and, no doubt, Lawrence Shankland's lack of goals is a major contributing factor in their woes.

The 29-year-old fired 24 league goals in each of the last two seasons, but is stuck on just three so far this season.

He fired a much-needed double this month in the win over Dundee and Jambos supporters will be eager to see him kick on.

This could be a good opportunity for the Scotland international and he is taken to get the all-important opener.

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