Derek McInnes

“The start was everything we wanted in the game.

“Even in the warm up and speaking to the players in the dressing room I knew we were ready for the game tonight and in the first half hour we showed that. We were strong and aggressive, we played with a lot of thought and played in the right areas. The movement from the front four was really good and unnerved Hearts. We got the goal with our full backs being high and Simon gets on the end of the cross.

“But then we proceed to go and miss some really good opportunities to get a second and third goal.

“Like the Hamilton game on Sunday, when you are hot you need to capitalise on that. We did that on Sunday but did not do it tonight.

“Every chance you miss then gives the opposition that bit of encouragement.

“Hearts are too good an opponent to think that 1-0 would be enough, especially away from home. We paid for that in the end by missing real opportunities. To think of the chances we missed compared to the Hearts opening goal, it was a poor goal to lose. Yes he (Ozturk) could have been closed down better but we should have done better dealing with it right across the board.

“At half time we tried to generate the start we had in the first half to the second half. I thought we were doing fine.

“Both teams wanted to win the game as a draw was not really any use to any of us.

“Just when we were considering making little changes and adjustments so we could then go and get a winning goal we were guilty of committing ‘harry carry’ to be honest. And Hearts punished it.

“The game is maybe a reference to where we are in the league.

“We have put ourselves in a position to go and win it, in a position to really kick on, but we have not done that tonight and we have not done it in the league after tonight’s result. It was a real opportunity to pressure on Celtic and a chance to show that we are a team that will fight all the way.

“Ultimately when we needed a bit more when the game was in the balance we have lost our composure and lost a poor goal and therefore lost the game.

“Although it is not mathematically impossible we have played right into Celtic’s hands and gifted them a less pressure game against Motherwell.

“The reality of the situation is that we have five games left. We are not kidding ourselves on, we have missed a real opportunity tonight.

“I would never say it has gone. I will never give it up and I would not expect my players to give it up.

“But it is going to take a dramatic collapse from Celtic now.

“We have been up against winning the title from the first moment of the season. We were still up against it tonight because Celtic had an advantage and it is an even bigger advantage now.

“Ryan locked his knee and it was a worry. It is still a concern but we don’t think he has torn any ligaments. I am hoping it is a few weeks rather than months. It was a big blow as you never want to lose your captain. He was doing very well and we could have done with his steadying influence.

“Ash felt is thigh tighten up, the one that caused him a problem on Sunday.”

“Ash felt is thigh tighten up, the one that caused him a problem on Sunday.”