ROB'S NEW GOAL IS A FINAL PLACE

Feb 1 2005

By Anthony Haggerty

ROBBIE NEILSON reckons reaching the CIS Cup Final with Hearts would eclipse his match--winning European exploits in Basel.

The defender became the unlikely hero for the club in the UEFA Cup group match in November with a stunning last-minute strike in Switzerland to seal a memorable 2-1 win.

It remains Neilson's only goal for the Jambos to date.

But now he has set his sights on bringing some silverware to Tynecastle for the first time since the 1998 Scottish Cup win when Neilson had just joined the Edinburgh side as a 17-year-old.

Neilson will line up against Motherwell in tonight's CIS Cup semi-final at Easter Road determined to move one step closer to his personal dream of capturing a cup winner's medal.

He said: 'Getting to the CIS Cup Final would dwarf my goal in Basel by comparison. That was a definite highlight of my career, particularly as it was my first goal for Hearts.

'It would be a massive achievement to get to a cup final as we have such a young squad here and it would be the first final for many of us.

'This is my first major semi-final although I won the Bell's Cup with Queen of the South when I was on loan down there.

'I was just in the door at Tynecastle when Hearts won the Scottish Cup. I travelled along with the groundstaff and it was a great time to be at the club.

'Given the things that are happening off the field this is a chance for this Hearts team to emulate the class of 1998 and bring some silverware back to the club, especially as we have not been in a cup final since then.

'A lot of great players go through their careers and never win anything but we are never going to have a better chance of getting to a major final.

'This is what you are in football for - to try to win medals and be successful.'

Neilson knows his boss John Robertson has a poor semi-final record as a coach, having lost in three Scottish Cups at the same stage already in his fledgling managerial career.

Robbo is aware Terry Butcher's men have already defeated the Jambos twice this season and the former striker is determined to ensure it won't be an unwelcome hat-trick for the capital club.

He said: 'This is a great chance for Motherwell and Hearts to get to a cup final and one big effort will see either side guaranteed a medal.

'There are only four teams left who can win it and one of them is Hearts so we are desperate to do it.

'We would have played at Hampden Park if asked although there will be a better atmosphere at Easter Road and it gives our supporters the chance to turn out in big numbers.

'Both teams would have played this match in a public park and I believe it is a sensible place to play the game, although Motherwell may disagree.

'They are a postive and very energetic side but they can play as well and have players who can cause you damage. Terry Butcher has done a fantastic job on a shoestring budget.

'Personally I would love to see the Hearts fans to sample another cup victory and prove that we can be a successful club.

'My semi-final record is poor as I have lost at the same stage in the Scottish Cup three times.

'I lost twice as a manager with Caley Thistle - to Dundee and Dunfermline in 2003 and 2004 - and I also lost to Hibs in the semi-final when I was a first-team coach with Livingtson in 2001.'

Taken from the Daily Record