Hearts will have a 'big say' in Premiership title race, says Robbie Neilson
Friday 1 April 2016 11:20, UK
Robbie Neilson says Hearts will have a big say in who wins the Scottish Premiership this season even if he doubts their own chances of taking the title.
The Tynecastle side face leaders Celtic on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 2, and meet second-placed Aberdeen next Friday, with a trip to Inverness sandwiched in between.
Victories against each of the top two would do a lot to thrust his team back into contention ahead of the final five games after the league splits.
With Hearts 13 points off the top, however, Neilson knows it is asking a lot of his team to get back into the reckoning with eight games remaining.
Head coach Neilson told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's a big ask. It's three difficult games starting off at Parkhead on Saturday.
"We've got to focus on that one and then hopefully take care of that then look to ahead the next two.
"We're going to have a big say in the title race about where it goes. It's going to be very difficult for us to get anywhere near them.
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"Aberdeen are the target and then Celtic are a little bit ahead of them as well. We're just going to try to win on Saturday then we'll take it from there.
"We've drawn the last two games with Celtic so we're starting to improve. They're the main team in Scotland, so it's always difficult to beat them.
"But we feel we're in a good place at the moment. We're confident to go to Parkhead and get a result."
Hearts will return to play after the international break looking to respond positively to their 3-0 home defeat against St Johnstone on March 19.
The result followed four consecutive victories and Neilson is eager to return to that good form in Glasgow.
He added: "It was a disappointing result. We lost two goals from set plays in the early stages of the game and it was difficult to get back in it.
"But we've just got to take that on the chin. We're in a good position in the league and we have to try to consolidate third position and aim higher if we can."
