NEILSON SETS HIS SIGHTS ON OVERHAULING CITY RIVALS

ROBBIE NEILSON has challenged his injury-ravaged squad to leapfrog rivals Hibernian and reclaim third place in the Premiership before the World Cup break.

First-half goals from Lawrence Shankland and Andy Halliday secured a much-needed three points away to Ross County and lifted Neilson’s team back into the top six, three days after a European Conference League victory over Latvians RFS.

That continental campaign may now be dead in the water and has degraded Hearts’ strength as a squad, with injuries and exhaustion unavoidable. But having secured back-to-back wins for only the second time this season, the Tynecastle boss was upbeat and focused on immediate challenges in the league.

Hearts sit three points behind their great rivals with a game in hand after yesterday’s Dingwall exploits. They now face a quality side in Istanbul Basaksehir away on Thursday with nothing left but pride to fight for in the European Conference League.

After that they face Motherwell at home, Rangers away and Livingston at home before the winter break, with Neilson (pictured) stressing: ‘Our objective is to get into that third position ahead of the World Cup and, if we can do that, it will be outstanding because at that point we will start to get others back.

‘Third is where we want to be and, depending on what happens at Pittodrie on Friday night (when Aberdeen host Hibs), we could potentially have the chance to move back there.

‘With all these games and injuries, it is about getting to the World Cup break in the best place possible. Then I would expect us to kick on.

‘We want European football and if we want that then we have to balance that with playing in Europe on a Thursday night.’

Turkish outfit Basaksehir proved their quality at Tynecastle, winning 4-0, and Neilson said: ‘They’re a tough team to play against and that is why we have to go full strength. If we don’t, we are in trouble.

‘We will see who is available and put the strongest team out. We need to try to enjoy the game.’

The Staggies remain bottom in the league on goal difference after their fine attacking play was undone by mistakes.

The record books would have served as a pre-match warning to the home contingent. County had managed victory in just one of their previous 20 Premiership clashes with Hearts, dating back to 2013.

Hearts’ injury woes restricted Neilson’s choices, with Stephen Kingsley the latest casualty after being forced off with a hamstring problem in Thursday’s European win.

It was the first run-out for VAR in the Highlands and there were barely six minutes on the clock when the extra scrutiny was called upon. After great interplay between Yan Dhanda and Jordy Hiwula on the edge of the Hearts penalty area, right-back Callum Johnson’s strike was blocked by Craig Gordon.

Hearts struggled to clear, but when Hiwula thrashed in a fantastic finish from 12 yards, the offside flag went up — and was upheld after VAR replays.

County, to their credit, did take the lead five minutes later. Owura Edwards fed Dhanda on the right and he swept in a tremendous cross, met perfectly by Jordan White, sliding in to score at the near post.

Sadly for the hosts, the lead lasted four minutes. Hearts’ Connor Smith foraged into the right side of the penalty area and passed back to Shankland. The striker was blocked at the first attempt but was swift and lethal in reacting to the rebound from 15 yards, powering the ball into Ross Laidlaw’s bottom-right corner.

Hearts then took a 20th-minute lead, with home marking suspect at a corner. Robert Snodgrass sent in the delivery and Halliday found space to leap and arc his header into the top of the net from 12 yards, scuffing the underside of the crossbar on the way in.

It was enthralling towards the break but both sides lacked the killer pass. Increasingly, as the second half developed, County held the upper hand and Hearts looked worn down and jaded.

On one occasion, substitute Victor Loturi saw his cross somehow headed over the bar by Johnson in a great position.

The Staggies were unlucky again as substitute Dominic Samuel’s fine first-time attempt from a Dhanda ball in was saved low by Gordon.

County boss Malky Mackay said: ‘It was hard to take but the way we’ve played the last few weeks has given me cause for hope. The way we’re playing, we’ve just got to start taking our chances.’