Neilson wants finals to be the norm at Hearts

ROBBIE NEILSON has told his deflated Hearts players that regularly reaching cup finals is the standard they’ve now set for themselves.

All at sea in the first half against Celtic on Sunday, the Tynecastle side bounced back spectacularly to claim a 3-3 draw only to lose a pulsating match on penalties.

Neilson, though, believes the efforts of his players against a side gunning to complete a quadruple Treble should only been seen as a positive — and strengthen the belief in the camp that they can go one better soon.

‘I came to Hearts because it is a club I have been associated with for a long time,’ he said.

‘We are a big club and I want to get them back to the top, playing in big games and finals.

‘We got to a final and we ran Celtic all the way, so it shows the progress we have made. We spoke in the dressing room of this being a regular stage, coming to Hampden for semi-finals and finals.

‘This is where a club like Hearts should be. We have to keep doing the best we can to get Hearts back to that level.’

Hearts collapsed under the strain of trying to l i ve up to their supporters’ expectations l ast season as they controversially lost their place in the Premiership under then boss Daniel Stendel.

But Neilson insists his team are a different animal this season.

He added: ‘We recovered from losing two goals against a team that has won the last 12 trophies now. To come back in the second half and then recover in extra-time was phenomenal.

‘It shows the strength of the team, the strength of character and it shows that all the players are fighting for this club.

‘We lost another goal in extratime but fought back again, which shows the spirit among the group.

‘I wasn’t here last year. If that happened last year, I could not have seen them coming back from that, but they’re doing it now.’

Neilson, meanwhile, explained why he was booked at half-time by referee John Beaton.

He added: ‘I spoke to the referee and he wasn’t happy about it but I felt I had to get my point across.

‘When you go to Hampden, you have to try and get decisions off referees and there were a few I wasn’t happy with.’

Neilson’s side are top of the Championship and on course for a rapid return to the top flight.

Hopeful that a chance to get revenge on Celtic will soon present itself, he said: ‘I’d love to be back in the Premiership to get another four cracks next season although I would love another crack at them in the Scottish Cup (this season).’

Hearts will have to wait until they face Ayr United at home on Boxing Day to get back on the park but Neilson is convinced there will be no lingering hangover from their painful defeat at Hampden.

‘We will pick ourselves up, take the positives f rom the game and get ready to kick on again,’ said Neilson.