Former Hearts star stunned on 'surreal' Tynecastle return as Jambos injury woes pounced upon
The former Hearts defender returned to Tynecastle on Sunday.
Lewis Neilson admits Falkirk sensed a result was there to be had against former side Hearts - but couldn’t believe they had gone five goals ahead.
The central defender spent last season on loan at John McGlynn’s side from Tynecastle but permanently joined the Bairns in the summer. It was his first Premiership game in Gorgie since swapping maroon for navy and Neilson started the game that Falkirk won by a stunning 5-2 margin.
They scored five without reply before Hearts brought a couple back and the manner of earning three points wowed Neilson. There was a sense amid good Falkirk form, Hearts injuries and the Jambos’ Conference League campaign that a result could be unlocked, but just how emphatically they’d do so sparked surprise.
Lewis Neilson on return to Hearts
Neilson: “Obviously really enjoyable. Surreal at one point, being 5-0 up at Tynecastle, it's something you probably don't expect even when you factor in how confident we are feeling at the moment. We knew if we came here, given they travelled away on Thursday night to play Thun - and with the amount of injuries that they have currently - that we'd come and get a result if we worked as hard as we have been doing in recent weeks.
"To be 5-0 up at one point in that game was something special. It wasn't a fluke or a bit of luck. We won all our duels in the first half and we were so clinical going forward. You could go through the whole team, everyone's playing at the top of their game. We have some brilliant players at the top end of the pitch who are game changers, and I think that showed on Sunday.”
Ex-Hearts boss McGlynn has placed faith in Neilson at Falkirk, who are now third, and the defender has a lot to thank his gaffer for. He said: "That was a big thing for me, I wanted somewhere that I could call home and I loved my time at Falkirk last year.
“I knew it was the right place for me. I'm playing every week at the minute in a really good team with some great players around me. I'm loving it. The manager is a massive part of why I chose to sign for Falkirk. He was brilliant with me last year, and he's brilliant with everyone that comes in.
“One million per cent he is a big reason why. He's brought together a really good group of boys this year, and he's been brilliant with me. I can only thank him for giving me this opportunity. I'm loving every second of it.”