Robbie: That one is for the fans

Lawrence Shankland grabbed his 17th and 18th goals of the campaign in the first half, before the returning Stephen Humphrys put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

“Firstly, I’m delighted for the fans,” Neilson explained to Hearts TV. “We had 17,000 fans here in the home end and to get the result and to see us working hard, making tackles, getting after people and winning the game is what they want, so that sends them up the road happy.

“That is the key message to the players. That is what it’s about at this football club. It’s about the fans and us working hard for them which the players have managed to do today.

“I actually thought Hibs started the game better than us. They had a bit more territory, but then we started to get a foothold in the game and managed to get pressure high up the pitch through Cammy and Gino and then Lawrence does what Lawrence does.

“He is a predator in the box. We get the goal and then the penalty changes the game for us as well as it gives us that cushion to go forward.”

On the returning Humphrys, the gaffer added: “I’m delighted for Stephen. He has been out for a number of weeks now and also Jorge who gets the assist. The two subs coming on and influencing the game like that is very pleasing.

Zander Clark produced some magnificent saves to ensure he kept a clean sheet on his Edinburgh derby debut and Neilson believes the stopper is up to the task of filling the gloves of Craig Gordon.

“He is a top player. It’s difficult to fill the gloves of Craig Gordon, but we always knew that Zander had that ability and now it’s just about him settling in.

“The ricochet off Cochrane was outstanding but the double save at the end wins us the game. If Hibs get a goal at that point, it could change the outcome of the game, so I’m delighted for Zander.”