Gers display was our best of the season.. we’ve proved we can perform at top level
Now Robbie hopes his men won’t look back
ROBBIE NEILSON has urged his players to build on their best performance this season after showing against Rangers “we’re here to compete”.
The Hearts manager was delighted with his team’s display in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by the league leaders at Tynecastle.
His only grievance was they failed to take any of their chances in a pulsating match, which ended the club’s unbeaten home run.
Hearts had more shots at goal and more on target than their opponents, as well as 53 per cent possession.
But the Jambos were undone by two ruthless strikes, first from Alfredo Morelos then Joe Aribo.
Hearts remain third in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Dundee and Neilson insists what his players gave him in Gorgie tempered his disappointment at walking away empty-handed.
The Tynecastle boss said: “We were disappointed to take nothing from the game.
“We played really well and created a lot of chances.
“But the difference was Rangers took two chances and we didn’t take ours.
“And if we’re not going to take them in games like that, then we’re not going to win games. But all in all, the performance was probably the best we’ve played this season.
“This is what being at Hearts is all about – full stadium, big games intensity, and on another day we score two or three.
“We almost dominated the game but didn’t have that final moment.
“On the balance of the game we controlled most of the possession and, for me, it shows we’re here to compete at that level.
“We want to compete against Rangers and Celtic and not look behind us. But now we just need to focus on Dundee and be ready for that. It’s all about Dundee at the weekend.”
Neilson’s side will head to Dens Park looking to make it back-to-back league wins on the road for the first time
since August.
Before that, fans will not get a chance to quiz chairwoman Ann Budge nor the board on club affairs today at the agm.
The Gorgie outfit confirmed only formal business will be dealt with due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. The meeting, which has been switched from a suite inside the ground to the Main Stand, is expected to take no longer than 15 minutes.
But the club hope to engage with shareholders in person early in the new year.
A club spokesperson said: “The presentation and Q&A element of the agm will be held before the end of January, in person if restrictions allow or virtually depending on the Covid situation at that time.
“The rapid onset and spread of the variant means we have been unable to put in place a virtual solution that would allow the interactivity we know is an important part of the meeting in time for Thursday.
“This decision was not taken lightly and we very much look forward to sharing the presentations and having an open dialogue with shareholders in January.”