BEATING RANGERS WAS REALLY NO BIG DEAL FOR US.. IT WAS JUST THREE MORE POINTS IN THE BAG

HEARTS took a massive step towards silencing the sceptics who said the Old Firm would burst their bubble by beating Rangers on Saturday.

Now they have to finish the job by travelling to Glasgow and beating the big two in their own backyards.

That's the opinion of Tynecastle defender Robbie Neilson, whose performance against the champions in the weekend's 1-0 victory suggested it won't be too long before he's joining team-mates Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley in the Scotland squad.

Neilson was outstanding at the weekend, even if he admitted he got lucky in the last minute when referee Kenny Clark ignored his handball that denied Francis Jeffers an equaliser.

That decision confirmed Hearts' 11-point lead over Rangers and the right-back believes they can go from strength to strength if they continue to keep their feet on the ground.

He said: "I think we proved something to people who were saying we hadn't played the Old Firm yet but it was just another three points for usand we have to go on and think about Falkirk next week now. If we go there and get beat then what's the point of beating Rangers?

"The boys the manager has brought in are physically strong but they can play as well. If you've got that you are halfway there.

"It was a difficult game for us but we were at home. Now we have to go to Glasgow and win. It's OK winning at home but if we are really going to be challenging for the league we have to go there and win."

Neilson believes the influx of foreigners under George Burley has fostered a couldn't-care-less attitude about facing the Old Firm. In other words, the fear factor has evaporated.

He added: "I think there is a difference in our attitude now towards the Old Firm. The new boys who have come in don't really have the same respect for the Rangers and Celtic. They've just come in and thought it's still only three points.

"But it's the first time we've won here in seven years against Rangers and for the fans it's great. But we haveto keep our feet on the ground. We'll go in on Tuesday and forget about the Rangers game and just think about how we will try to get three points at Falkirk.

"It's a big gap but there's only eight games gone.There will come a point in the season where we'll lose a few games or draw and that's when the character of the team will come out and we'll have to knuckle down."

Neilson believes consistency of selection has helped them win their opening eight games - the first time a Hearts team has done that in 90 years He said: "We are quite a settled team and we know the majority of the boys whowill be playing every week. I think that helps.

"Our strikers are good players.They are strong and physical and good at running the channels. It's good for the boys at the back that if we are under pressure we can hoof it up the park. It might not look great but we know they'll fight for it.

"We always know it will be physical against Rangers. They are a big strong team but we have strong boys in our side as well and we can fight them.

"The shot at the end was fired right at me and I couldn't move. I was quite lucky that my hands were beside me. If they'd been out the referee would have given a penalty.

"Maybe that's the way it goes after last year but if it had happened up the other end we wouldn't have been happy.

"It happened so quickly but when I realised he hadn't blown I was delighted. But that's the way it goes - we could go to Ibrox and not get a penalty.

"There was a shove on Stephen Simmons in the first half that could have gone either way."

Neilson admitted he would love to become the fifth Jambo in Walter Smith's set-up but for now he's content to be holding down a club slot.

He said: "I want to play for Scotland but the way things are going here I just want to stay in the team.

"I need to concentrate on my own performances and if the call comes it would be fantastic.

"I'll just keep plugging away and keep improving in training. The manager has said if I play well and the team plays well I'll stay in the team."

There's not much danger of Neilson being dropped if Hearts keep winning

Taken from the Daily Record