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Hearts boss Robbie Neilson delighted with Europa League qualification

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson on the touchline at Inverness
Image: Robbie Neilson was happy to see his Hearts side secure European football

Manager Robbie Neilson was delighted to see his Hearts side secure European football for next season despite a turgid 0-0 draw with Inverness.

The point was good enough to seal Europa League qualification for the Jambos, who are now 16 points clear of fourth-placed Motherwell.

The best chances in a dreary affair went Hearts' way, with Abiola Dauda having the best of them blocked by goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.

But ultimately neither side did enough to earn the win, and Neilson was disappointed in his side's display.

Hearts seal European spot
Hearts seal European spot

The Jambos earn place in next season's Europa League

He said: "Obviously it is good to get the point and secure that European place, but the disappointment is we didn't take three.

"I was hoping to come up here and take three points but we didn't do enough to win the game.

"But European football is great for the club. Obviously top six was the aim this year so to be able to secure European football before the split is great for us.

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"We've taken two huge strides over the course of the last two seasons - one, getting out of the Championship and the next one getting into Europe.

"It's important to try and build on that over the summer and keep that positive momentum going."

.Inverness CT manager John Hughes
Image: John Hughes pleased his side looked more like a team

Inverness boss John Hughes was pleased his side looked more like a team than they have throughout the season, given the injury problems they have encountered.

Hughes was able to name an unchanged side - a rare feat this campaign - and had the luxury of leaving players out of the matchday squad.

For the majority of the season he has struggled to field a full bench and he said: "This is probably the first time we've had the same team twice in a row.

"We've had to leave a couple in the stand and it's a good problem to have. We're getting that experience back. We look more like a team."

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