Robbie Neilson Hails Hearts After Dramatic Win Over Kilmarnock

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson hailed his players' belief after they came from a goal down with a minute left to snatch an incredible 3-2 Scottish League Cup victory at Kilmarnock.

Published 24th Sep 2015

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson hailed his players' belief after they came from a goal down with a minute left to snatch an incredible 3-2 Scottish League Cup victory at Kilmarnock.

Juanma Delgado headed an equaliser with the clock hitting 89 minutes before Sam Nicholson fired a winner from eight yards deep inside stoppage-time after Osman Sow forced the ball across goal.

Neilson said: To get the goal and go again to get the third goal is fantastic. It shows great spirit.

I think it shows belief. They always want to keep going and going.

They are 2-1 down and pushing for the goal and I'm shouting to get them a bit more disciplined, because they all want to score goals.

They did that to an extent and it gave us the platform to go and score.''

Josh Magennis looked to have sent Killie through with a double either side of Alim Ozturk's strike, the second coming in the 79th minute.

Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke said: We are gutted, we put so much into the game, played some really good stuff and lose a couple of late goals. It's a sickener for us.

I thought we looked comfortable. Their second goal is a great cross and a good header and the third one, the boy mis-hits it and it lands right in Nicholson's path. You need that bit of luck, especially in cup competitions, and that eluded us.''

Locke fielded emergency loan signing Mark Ridgers, who came in for the injured Jamie MacDonald and cup-tied Conor Brennan.

Big Mark did okay, I don't think he was at fault for any of the goals,'' he said.

There wasn't a lot he could have done about the goals and he will be a good addition to the squad. We will see how Jamie is in the next 48 hours.''