Opening-day victory at Ibrox set us on our way to title, says Neilson

The Tynecastle club claimed a thrilling 2-1 win over Rangers back in August thanks to a last-gasp winner from Osman Sow - mere seconds after Nicky Law had restored parity.

Hearts went from strength to strength following that triumph in Govan and have lost just one league match during their dominant march back to the Premiership.

Having opened up a yawning 23-point lead at the summit, they were deservedly crowned champions yesterday afternoon when Hibernian were beaten 2-0 by Rangers at Easter Road. And Neilson, winning the league in his first season as a coach, is adamant that first victory instilled a sense of belief in his players that they would go onto lift the trophy.

"The match against Rangers was a huge one for us in morale terms and for the fans." said Neilson. "When you go to Ibrox, go a goal ahead and lose a goal towards the end, you're hanging on hoping to get a draw out of it but we went straight up the park again to get all three points.

"I think it set the tone for the season and gave us a real belief we could go on and win the trophy and we've done that - which is magnificent."

Neilson paid tribute to the way the players responded to the change of regime, with owner Ann Budge sweeping to power last summer and immediately appointing Craig Levein as director of football and handing Neilson the head coach role.

He continued: "This is all testament to the support we've had all season from the fans and the hard work we've had from Ann Budge, Craig Levein and the players.

"They've been magnificent this season in everything I've asked them to do. They've done it and the deserve every minute of it. The key factor has been the hard work from the players, they've bought into the change of training regime, working hard and they deserve everything.

"I could not ask anymore, every day at training they give everything, in every game they give everything and to a man they've been fantastic this season."

They require just four more wins to register a record points total of 90, usurping Hibs tally of 89 on their way to promotion in 1999. Another 16 goals in their remaining seven matches will see them hit 100 goals for the first time since Airdrieonians in 1974.

"If we could set a new record for the points tally it would be fantastic but the objective for the season was to get promoted and we've done that," he added.

Ally McCoist, of course, was Rangers manager on that day back in August when Hearts pocketed all three points and headed back along the M8 in jubilant mood.

The man now occupying the Ibrox dugout for the remainder of the season, Stuart McCall, savoured his first victory since taking over from Kenny McDowall with his side's largely unexpected triumph at Easter Road and was quick to congratulate Hearts while insisting that his players have now proved they have the ability and appetite to join them in winning promotion.

The Ibrox side's largely unexpected 2-0 win at Hibernian, earned through goals from Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller, ensured that the league trophy is on its way to Tynecastle with eight games of the campaign still to play.

"First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Hearts on an outstanding season and winning the title," said McCall. "Robbie (Neilson) and his team have been outstanding all season, so fair play to them."

McCall concedes that Hearts deserve their success in the wake of an impressive season, but believes his team, recording only their second victory in 10 fixtures, will take a huge psychological lift from winning against the odds and reducing the gap between themselves and second-placed Hibs to three points.

Asked if they showed over the 90 minutes at Easter Road that they are good enough to go up via the play-offs, he replied: "Yeah. That's all we want from them. "There are players in there who need a bit of belief and confidence. A performance like that can only help. It helps us psychologically.

"I said to the players that there is only one thing better than winning and that is winning as an underdog, when people don't expect it of you. They have done that, but there is a long way to go and we won't be getting carried away."

Rangers had lost their three previous league meetings with Hibernian by an aggregate score of 9-1. They will have to meet them again in the end of season play-offs and McCall believes yesterday's victory could prove a very significant marker.

"It's a stepping stone," he said. "However, if we get back into the top league at the end of the season, we're going to have to play Hibs in a two-legged decider.

"If we had come here and lost, it would not have been good psychologically and this will help. We want to go into the play-offs with momentum, with a bit of spirit and confidence, and players playing at the level they can play will help with that."

Hibernian's manager, Alan Stubbs, however, was clearly angry with referee Willie Collum over Rangers' second goal 10 minutes from time.

He felt Paul Hanlon was fouled while attempting to clear from Wallace and cannot believe Miller was allowed to pick up the rebound and score.

"I've been in management a short time and I was player a long time," said Stubbs. "Over the years, that decision would be given 100 per cent of the time.

"Not 90 per cent. Not 99 per cent. 100 Per cent. But a guy who has an influence over a game decided differently.

"He's there to get the big calls right and he got a big call very, very wrong. Everyone in the stadium could see it was a foul. I don't want to sit here and try to justify a decision. Only one guy can do that, but he's protected and not allowed to talk. It spoiled the game, although, obviously, not from Rangers' point of view.

"We were on top at the time and had Rangers pinned back."

Hanlon was equally frustrated by Collum's refusal to blow the whistle and the booking he received in the immediate aftermath of Miller's goal.

"'I read the pass, got in front of Wallace and went to clear with my right foot," he said. "I just felt like I was taken out.

"I think the whole stadium was waiting on the whistle. I was on the floor at the time and it's just disappointing that has led to a goal that effectively killed the game.

"I wasn't given an explanation. He just decided to book me for dissent even though I didn't say much.

"I just said it was a foul, along with everyone else who surrounded him. I didn't even think I was in his face, but I think he just has to pick a player and book him."

Even McCall conceded he can understand why Hibernian were so unhappy.

"My own thought is that it is not a blatant free-kick as in a foul, but there is a coming together," he said. "If I was Stubbsy, I would be claiming a free-kick."

Miller was booked for his celebrations after scoring, racing onto trackside to embrace the away support, and did not attempt to hide his joy at lifting a largely grim season with such an important victory.

"It's a relief to actually put on a decent performance and backing it with a result," said the striker, who had not hit the net since scoring in a 3-2 loss to Alloa Athletic in the semi-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup in December.

"It's been a season with a lot of lows. We have been getting kicked every other week, so it's fantastic to enjoy a result and get on the scoresheet.

"Hibs are a good team, but we have allowed them to dominate the games between us so far. It was a case of getting in to their good players and not giving them time on the ball.

"I hope this will give us the belief that we are not quite as bad a team as everyone says."

Miller also remains confident that Rangers can steer a safe course through the play-offs and back into the Premiership at the first time of asking.

"Of course we can," he said. "The manager has come in and said we have two-and-a-half months left and to forget about what's gone on.

"The ultimate goal is promotion. If we can get to these levels every week, we won't be far away.

"Hibs could still come out and say it's 9-3 on aggregate, so I don't know about putting down a marker, but it was important for us as a team to go out and perform like that in a big game.

"We have let ourselves down in these matches so far, games against Hearts, Hibs, Queen of the South and Celtic in the League Cup."