Adam and class of 98 pay Robbie fine tribute

Hearts 4 - Cup Winners Select 3

ONE of Robbie Neilson's former team-mates, who played in his testimonial match yesterday has paid tribute to the right back and believes Hearts need more players with his character if they are to improve next term.

Stephane Adam, who will always be remembered for scoring one of the goals that won the Tynecastle club the Scottish Cup a decade ago, was speaking after the current Hearts side beat a Cup Winners Select 4-3 in Neilson's Testimonial match in front of over 7000 fans.

The day gave supporters a chance to thank the Paisley-born 27-year-old for over ten years of service at the club as well as seeing some of their heroes in action, including John Robertson and Steven Pressley.

And Frenchman Adam said: "Robbie is a really nice guy, he always works hard and has given everything for this club over the years. He deserved his day and I am glad so many supporters turned out to see the match.

"It has been a difficult season at the club, but I am sure Robbie will be giving his all next season. This club needs stability and if all of the players work as hard as Robbie then I am sure there will be better times ahead."

And Neilson himself, who had been welcomed onto the pitch to rapturous applause carrying daughters Eva and Ruby, was pleased with the day. The man who has clocked up 221 competitive appearances in a maroon jersey said: "I really enjoyed it. You are always a bit nervous about whether it will go well and there were a couple of call-offs but it turned out well in the end.

"I hope all the players who came back for it and their families enjoyed it too. There was also a really good turnout from the fans after a disappointing season, which was great.

"It was great in the dressing-room seeing all of the guys from the 1998 squad and it was like they had never been away and we were all having a laugh and a joke. Football is changing so much these days so it is great to be honoured with a testimonial."

Current Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was back at Tynecastle for the second time in 24 hours managing the Cup Winners Select side and he too thought the event was a huge success.

"The atmosphere was terrific and it was great to see the 1998 and the 2006 guys together. In these days of Bosman transfers and the like you don't get many players staying at a club for as long as Robbie has so it is great that he has had his day as he is very loyal.

"The supporters were great and they got behind everybody on the pitch right from the start and to see the likes of John Robertson and Steve Fulton back out there along with guys like Gilles Rousset and Stephane Adam, who had come a long way for the game was brilliant," said the man who guided Hearts to cup glory in 1998.

In the early stages the current Hearts side looked as if they might runaway with he match. With Robbie in the Cup Winners Select starting line-up despite a slight injury it was the opposition who got off to a flyer, showing superior fitness and touch to go 3-0 up with just 12 minutes gone. Firstly midfielder Kestutis Ivaskevicius tapped in from a corner in the sixth minute and then young striker Jamie Mole doubled the lead after a neat cross from Deividas Cesnauskis. Then in the 12th minute Mole made it 3-0 and some of the older ex-Jambos must have been wondering what they had got themselves into.

However, early on the supporters had seen glimpses of the old days from the Cup Winners Select, including a crunching tackle by Italian Stefano Salvatori and a bustling run and shot by fellow midfielder Steve Fulton.

And for the rest of the half they competed well with the current squad, Thomas Flogel in particular looking sharp and just as skilful as he did a decade ago and legend Robertson living right on the line of offside like any good goal poacher. After the break fans' favourite from 2006 Rudi Skacel came on for the Cup Winners Select and he had soon set up a goal for his former team mate Michal Pospisil to make it 3-1.

However, in the 63rd minute it was 4-1 when young talent Fernando Screpis banged a sweet shot past Rousset. The best was yet to come though, Skacel hitting a sweet drive past Steve Banks to make it 4-2. And the day ended on a high note when Neilson slotted a penalty past replacement keeper Mark Ridgers in the 83rd minute after Matej Rapnik pulled back Cesnauskis, now playing for the other side, in the box.

Scorers: Hearts Ivaskevicius, Mole (2), Screpis. Cup Winners Select – Pospisil, Skacel, Neilson.



Hearts: S Banks, J Thomson, C Berra, M Rapnik, L Wallace, D Cesnauskis, K Ivaskevicius, R McGowan, R Palazuelos, L Kingston, J Mole. Subs used: M Ridgers, C Karipidis, S Mackle, F Screpis, S Husband, C Sives.



Cup Winners Select: G Rousset, R Neilson, D McPherson, P Ritchie, G Locke, T Flogel, S Salvatori, S Fulton, N McCann, S Adam, J Robertson. Subs used: J Hamilton, J Quitongo, D Cesnauskis, M Pospisil, I Tall, J Goncalves, R Skacel, B Aguair, S Pressley, G Mackay, A Wilson.



Referee: W Young (replaced at half-time by G Salmond).