Robbie Neilson proud despite Hearts crashing out of Europa League

Robbie Neilson was proud of his Hearts players for putting FC Zurich under “massive pressure” before Jorge Grant’s second-half red card swung their Europa League play-off back in favour of the Swiss champions.

The Tynecastle boss was hugely encouraged with the way the Jambos dominated their visitors in the first half as they tried to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at a packed-out Tynecastle.

But Neilson admits Grant’s red card – after picking up a second booking for being deemed to have dived in the opposition box – was the turning point as Zurich went on to score in the 80th minute and progress to the Europa League group stage with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

“I’m very proud of the players,” he said. “I thought they were outstanding. There’s a lot of pride. For the first 60 minutes, I thought we were outstanding. I thought we were the better team. We took on the Swiss champions and put them under massive pressure.

“The sending off changes the game and made it very difficult. There is a disappointment, but, overall, pride in the players, the club, the fans and the board.”

Neilson felt the decision to show Grant a second yellow card was wrong and instead claimed his team should have been awarded a penalty.

“When I speak to our players I say to them, when you’re defending in the penalty area, you can’t come off your feet,” he said. “If you do, you have to make contact with the ball. He comes off his feet.

“The striker, in my opinion, is under no obligation to get out the way. So as soon as there’s contact, it should be a penalty. But the referee has seen it a different way and it’s cost us the tie.

“It changed the game. At that point we are still 2-1 down from the previous game. They get a chance to then open up. If you