Robbie Neilson urges Hearts to finish the job against Hibs and explains what they must do to complete a great season

A 3-1 victory courtesy of Andy Halliday’s two goals and one from Stephen Kingsley secured third place and guaranteed European football for the Gorgie club. The result also left Hibs finishing the season in the bottom six.

The sides meet again at Hampden next Saturday in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Another Hearts win would guarantee European group-stage football through to November and Neilson is eager for his team to realise that ambition.

“I don't think there has ever been back-to-back derbies like this,” he said at full-time. “The biggest focus for us has always been the Scottish Cup one but the key had to be that we focused on this one.

“Today, ten per cent of the job is done. The other 90 per cent [still to come]. The Scottish Cup allows us to get to a final, win a derby and guarantee European group stage football. So that game is massive.

“I think it has been a decent season but it has got the potential to be a great season if we can win next week.”

Finishing third means Hearts are in the European Conference League third qualifying round as things stand. If they reach the Scottish Cup final, as the Premiership’s third-placed team they will take the competition’s European berth in the Europa League play-off round because whoever they play – Rangers or Celtic – will be in the Champions League.

Defeat in the Europa League play-off permits a parachute into the Europa Conference League group phase, so there is much riding on next week’s game for Neilson and his squad.

After Drey Wright’s opening goal and an uneasy early spell in the game, they recovered to win comfortably. “I was delighted with the result. It's a derby, you want to win it. It's really important that with a full house here today we win the game.