I missed my glory goal

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS hero Robbie Neilson was today still savouring his dramatic match-winner against Basel in the UEFA Cup - but admitted he didn’t even see the glory goal go in.

The defender pounced in the 89th minute to drive home his first goal in eight years for the club, the strike clinching a famous 2-1 triumph for John Robertson’s side in the Stadion St Jakob Park.

The Group A clash in Switzerland appeared to heading for a draw when Joe Hamill’s cross from the left was headed back into the path of Neilson by Phil Stamp and the 24-year-old rattled a shot through the legs of keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler to snatch a memorable victory and keep alive hopes of progressing to the last 32 of the competition.

It was a special moment for the full back, who is the club’s longest-serving player having moved to Tynecastle in 1996.

However, the Gorgie star admitted he didn’t actually realise he had scored until he was mobbed by his delighted team-mates.

"It was obviously great to score my first goal for the club but to be honest I didn’t see it go in!" he said.

"Joe Hamill played a cross in and I saw Phil Stamp going up for it at the back post. I just took a chance that the ball would come out my way and luckily enough it just landed right in front of me. I just hit it but didn’t actually see it hit the net.

"One of their defenders was trying to close me down and blocked me and the first time I knew the shot had gone in was when the guys all started to jump on top of me.

"That’s when I realised I had scored my first goal for the club and it was a great feeling."

There were just seconds of normal time remaining when Neilson struck the winner, Cesar Andres Carignano having earlier equalised Dennis Wyness’ first-half opener.

"It came at a great time as it really killed them off as there wasn’t much left on the clock for Basel to try to get back into the match," said Neilson.

"There was a bit of injury time to be played so we still had a bit of work to do but it was a brilliant result for us.

"I have been here for eight years and hopefully that’s the first of a few now. It was unexpected for me to score but it was a great feeling and I really enjoyed it.

"It has given us a chance of getting through the group and we now have to keep up the good work by beating Ferencvaros at Murrayfield next month and then see what happens."

Schalke top Group A after their win over the Hungarians in Germany last night but Neilson added: "With three teams going through we have a real chance of qualifying. We knew we needed a win last night to keep our hopes alive and it was great we acheived that."

Wyness hailed his strike as the highlight of his Hearts career - and hopes it can help kick-start his stay in Gorgie.

"That was my first goal in Europe, although to be honest I should have scored earlier as I had a couple of good chances," said the former Inverness Caley Thistle striker.

"It could prove to be the most important one of my career if we get through the group and hopefully it will help the confidence levels. It was a massive game for us and to come away with the three points was brilliant. I think it was a better result than last season’s win in Bordeaux as the circumstances were very different."

Wyness, though, admitted he thought the Jambos had blown their big chance after Basel levelled the match with 13 minutes remaining.

"We had been defending well and thought we would hold on for a 1-0 win," he said.

"But once they equalised I couldn’t see us going up the park to get a winner. But Robbie did the business and we then had chances to make it 3-1.

"The win was all we could ask for and now we need to do it all again against Ferencvaros."

Taken from the Scotsman