We’re stronger now than the last time we romped to the title
Neilson: Hearts have to handle favourites tag
ROBBIE NEILSON reckons his current Hearts squad is better than the record breakers who ran away with the 2014/15 title.
But the catch is they now have to prove they can handle the expectation that comes with being red- hot favourites.
The Jambos kick off their Championship campaign at home to biggest challengers Dundee under the lights at Tynecastle tonight.
Five years ago, it was Neilson taking his team into the lion’s (or more accurately bear’s) den when they went to Ibrox on the opening day.
A dramatic stoppage-time winner from Osman Sow secured a 2-1 win and set the tone for a 91-point title win, with promotion clinched before the end of March.
Same again is the target but this time the tables have turned in that everyone now expects it.
The lack of fans to intimidate visitors to Gorgie is another dif ference but Neilson is confident he has the quality to get the job done regardless.
“It is a weapon,” he said. “A lot of times teams will come and when they step out with 20,000 fans on top of them, a few of them crumble already. We don’t have that this season but what we do have is a really good squad – a stronger squad than the last time we won the Championship – so I expect us to win games.
“There’s nothing better than starting with a big game and I expect Dundee to be one of our main rivals this year. I expect these to be the matches that set the tone for the league.
“And that’s why we wanted this for our first game, to lay down a marker. The boys were great that year and some have moved on to have great careers ers in the game. I’m pleased about ut that, it was a good group.
“But I see similarities with this his group, there are a lot of young ng guys who are hungry to do well ell but also older, experienced boys oys who bring that know-how.
“We had it previously with wi th Morgaro Gomis,mis, Prince Buaben, guysuys who understood whatat we had to do week in, week out. You need to haveve players who understandnd what it is like to win weekek in, week out and the demandsands it takes.
“It’s easy to be at a team who can win, losese and draw – nobody really cares. But when you are at a bigger club like this one, and previously when I was at Dundee United, there was an expectation that we had to win every week.”
Dens boss James McPake attempted to play down talk of a grudge match after Dundee’s SPFL vote sealed relegation for the Jambos. But Neilson insists his players haven’t forgotten or forgiven.
“We understand everything that has gone on over the past six months and don’t worry the players know all about that, the club understands that as well and the fans will,” he said. “It would have been brilliant if the
fans had been NO MESSING Hearts stopper Craig Halkett there because it would have been a full house and really intimidating atmosphere. “So we have to make sure we do our bit by being on the front foot and being aggressive.” Defender Craig Halkett believes a good start is vital and wants to send a message early. He said: “We want to win every game and if we can get up in front early and make teams know we’re not messing about, it will be up to teams to catch us.” Dundee’s Lee Ashcroft admits the Dark Blues could not have been handed a tougher start to their Championship campaign. But the defender is hoping tonight’s game will be the launch la pad that helps propel pr the club back to the th Premiership. He said: “It’s probably the th toughest start to the season sea we can get but we are prepared and raring rar to go – I am really looking loo forward to it. “I know the ambition of ththe club is to get back to thet Premiership and hopefully hop I have come here to be part of that.” Dundee Du boss McPake added: adde “It’s always an important impo game, the first league leagu one, so we are looking lookin forward to it.”