Robbie out of tune as Elvis impersonator

But stand-in skipper aims to make up for Pars loss

GRAEME CROSER

THE sight of a bearded and blond shaggy-haired figure leading Hearts on to the pitch is comfortingly familiar to Jambos fans - but for Robbie Neilson the thrill of captaining the club at Dunfermline on Saturday was an exciting first.

With Steven Pressley struck down by illness, Neilson had the honour of skippering the Gorgie club for the first time in a competitive game at East End Park.

Unfortunately the 24-year-old could not successfully impersonate Elvis’ knack for taking care of business as the Pars triumphed 1-0.

That Craig Levein had sent out a shadow side did much to influence the outcome but personal pride meant the defeat hurt Neilson badly.

Tonight he’ll get the chance to make amends as Kilmarnock visit Tynecastle in the CIS Cup.

Pressley and the rest of Levein’s big guns will be back for the clash and the full-back can’t wait to launch the Jambos’ cup campaign.

He said: "As soon as we came off the field at East End Park we couldn’t wait to get back into action.

"It’s good to come back into a cup tie and there’s a lot of other big games coming up after this - both in the league and Europe.

"The manager rested a few for the Dunfermline game but I was glad to keep my place. I’m just enjoying the chance to play regularly and I’d gladly take part in every game.

"Elvis is the captain and I was just filling in but it was nice to lead the boys out for a competitive game.

"It was a really proud moment for me to lead the team out at Dunfermline but obviously the result put a real dampener on the occasion.

"I’d captained the team in the Festival Cup earlier this month but that was my first time in an SPL game and I was hoping for a win.

"I just don’t think we performed on Sunday. It was just one of those days but I think the number of changes to the side had an obvious effect. For the boys coming in it was a chance to stake a claim but we just didn’t do what we normally do.

"Usually, we like to press the ball but we let Dunfermline have too much possession."

Neilson established himself as a first-team regular in the second half of last season and has held on to his place at the start of this campaign.

Levein once admitted there was a time when he doubted whether the right-back possessed the mentality to play regularly in the SPL, but it’s a credit to the player’s resolve that the manager is playing Alan Maybury out of position - and keeping new signing Jamie McAllister on the sidelines - to accommodate his talents.

Neilson continued: "I think the fact the manager has confidence in me is a big help. When you’re a bit-part player you don’t always feel secure and that can affect your performances.

"There’s competition in the squad and it’s good to hear the manager say that he’s done certain things to accommodate me. I just have to repay him by the way I play.

"Mentally, I’ve not really been preparing any differently - I just think as you get older you become stronger in your own mind.

"When I was younger and happened to have a bad game I would perhaps let that get to me a bit whereas now I just focus on getting it right the next time. A bit of stick from the fans might also have affected me more in the past but now I feel better equipped to soldier on. It can be hard to take sometimes but it’s part and parcel of football. The supporters pay their money and are entitled to criticise if the team isn’t doing the business."

It was Killie manager Jim Jefferies who led the Jambos to their last major honour in 1998’s Scottish Cup final.

Neilson was a spectator at Celtic Park that day and would love to be involved in another cup success.

He continued: "We all want to win this game because the cups are important to us. The manager has said he wants to win a cup and all the players are of the same opinion.

"I was only about 17 when the club won the Scottish Cup under Jim Jefferies but I know the atmosphere around Tynecastle at that point was brilliant.

"I went along to the final on the day and it was a terrific occasion - it would be great to think we could repeat that success."

Taken from the Scotsman