HEARTS boss Robbie Neilson was among the spectators at Auchinleck Talbot’s cup comeback win over Irvine Meadow in the Junior Cup on Saturday.

The Jam Tarts manager made the most of the Premiership shut-down to run the rule over Tommy Sloan’s troops ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie at Beechwood Park.

Neilson watched Tucker’s men secure place in the last eight – and an away tie against Shotts Bon Accord in March – with a 3-2 win over their West of Scotland Premier Division rivals.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Sloan said: “I did not see him but I was told Robbie Neilson was at the game with a couple of other representatives from Hearts.

“Is that a good thing that he is down at the game? Probably not for us!”

It was some game they picked as the two West of Scotland Football League Premier Division rivals battled it out in the Scottish Junior Cup for a place in the Quarter-Final.

Medda took the lead in the tie early on, when Mick Wardrope’s header hit the bar before spinning back over the line.

In the second half, Talbot rallied to grab a leveller via Graham Wilson, who tapped in at the back post.

Medda regained the advantage when Mark McLennan sent Bot keeper Andy Leishman the wrong way from the penalty spot, stroking the ball into the bottom right corner after Wardrope was bundled over inside the box.

But Talbot bounced back again and Keir Samson’s header levelled the tie for a second time – and though both sides went all out for a winner in the closing stages, it was Talbot who snatched a place in the quarter-finals courtesy of Craig McCracken’s header with two minutes to go.

After the match Medda co-boss Colin Spence says his side should have had another penalty late on when Ryan McKie went down in the box.

However, Sloan insisted Meadow were lucky to get their first spot kick without complaining about not being given a second.

He said: “It was absolute nonsense. Someone sent me the footage and I think Caspar the friendly ghost has tripped him up!

“They have already got a dubious penalty and I think they need to take stock there.”