Hearts boss Robbie Neilson couldn't hide his disappointment following his side's Europa League exit on Thursday evening.

The Jam Tarts were dumped out of the competition by Maltese outfit Birkirkara, losing 2-1 in the second leg at Tynecastle after a goalless draw last week.

The hosts hit the bar twice as they struggled to find a breakthrough. It wasn't until they had fallen 2-0 behind in the second half that Connor Sammon hit the back of the net, by which time it was too late.

"Obviously we are devastated," Neilson said afterwards. "We passed the ball well, created lots of chances, we got the penalty, hit the bar twice, couldn't get the goal and then got hit with the sucker punch. That's European football for you.

"We have a young group of players, a young group of coaches, you can't let teams score goals like that against us and that is what cost us in the end.

"These games are difficult. If we score the penalty it is a different game. We have to learn from it.

"We have a lot of guys in there who haven't played any European football before, kids who are still growing, growing with the club and you need to make sure you put this in perspective.

"Yes, we are devastated about it tonight. It took a full year's work to get here and we are upset that we have lost but now the work begins to get us back again next year."