Robbie Neilson admits his Hearts side 'went to pot' after conceding the second goal in their Europa Conference League defeat to İstanbul Başakşehir.
The Jambos lost out 4-0 on the night as the Turkish side opened up their group stage campaign in the perfect fashion. Tynecastle was packed out as the home support hoped to spur their troops to a famous win.
Neilson admits the first half display was really pleasing bar the lose of a disappointing goal but as soon as the second went in the quality from the opponents really showed as the home side chased to get back into the game. The Gorgie boss believes the result will provide a important learning curve with five more games still to come in the section.
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Speaking after the game, the Hearts boss said: “We’re disappointed.
“To be honest, I thought in the first half we played really well and I was pleased.
“I thought we were in the game and we lost a really disappointing goal.
“Even at the start of the second half we were in it.
“And then we lost the second goal and we went to pot, and they started to show their quality because we became so open. We started chasing the game.
“I think it is a learning curve for us all as players, as staff and as a club that, when it goes to 2-0, we keep our shape, stay compact and stay in the game.
“Because as soon as it goes three and four it becomes a different game and at the end we just couldn’t get close to them because the game was so open, they got confidence and they started popping the ball about.
“We were really, really pleased with the first half because I think we showed we can compete against a top team — because they are a top team.
“But in the second half we need to learn when things go against you, we need to keep that compactness and make sure we don’t fall out of it as quickly as we did.”
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