“It was a very tough game. We were coming up against a team who are not used to losing here and with that crowd behind them it was important to get a good start. I didn’t think our start was that good truth be told but once we got the first goal we played with a lot of game intelligence, real quality and we managed the game really well in the first half.

“I felt Hearts possibly chased the game because they aren’t used to being behind at home but we have still got to capitalise on that and pick them off and the quality of our attacking play was excellent. I am delighted for the boys who were involved in that but I am delighted for the team as a whole that we have managed to come to a difficult venue and get the job done.

“Niall has consistently been a high performer since I came into the job, he contributes with so many assists and I think he had the most in the league last year. It’s the only goal that I have seen back (before doing the press conference) but I had a good view at the time and it was excellent from him.

“We knew that we had to stand up to Hearts size, their back four are over 6 foot 2, they have got two big strikers so we were a bit stretched at set plays today. Every time a long throw or a corner came in we had to try and deal with that and it’s disappointing to lose a scruffy goal form that but by enlarge we stood up to that threat from Hearts and we picked them off.

“We could have picked them off more in the second half, Peter had a chance and Niall had a chance which could have really hammered home that authority but while Hearts had enough of the game to keep their support interested it was always going to be tough, I thought that we managed the game pretty well and it’s good to see that composure and maturity for the back end of the second half.

“Every player knows their responsibility, it doesn’t just fall on the back four and the goalkeeper to defend well and the full squad should take pride in that. We lost a goal today that was a as I say a bit scruffy but having said that it was good to score from a set play as well.

“We thought long and hard about it, we felt David Goodwillie was more suited to this type of game playing against their centre halves and he has shown that already this season in the European games. We lose a bit of size with Adam Rooney not in the team but you don’t want to pick a team just to deal with set plays. We brought Adam on in the second half and he helped out with that side of the game but Goodwillie’s contribution was excellent. I think it’s important when players do get their chance they come in and make a real contribution like he did, he was outstanding today. He took a lot of kicks and treatment but he fought his corner well and he should be delighted with his contribution and feeling good about himself.

“It’s never easy leaving Rooney out the team but we made a call on it. David, Paul, Peter and Shay who all missed out on Tuesday night all played their part today.

“We now focus our attentions to the League Cup. I watched Hibs yesterday and there is enough to suggest that we will have our work cut out and that we will have to bring a strong performance. With the focus now going onto the cup we want to do as well as we can in all competitions but it’s good to come through Celtic, Hamilton and Hearts with all the points in the bag.

“There might have been a time in the second half where we might have been a wee bit unsure in the past. You have seen Aberdeen teams come here and fold a wee bit on that type of pressure.

“I remember the game up at Inverness a couple of seasons ago when we were 4-0 up and cruising but we were praying for the final whistle in the end at 4-3, it was unconvincing. Although Hearts had a spell in the second half there was an inner belief and a confidence that we had enough on the pitch to get the job done and that shows an improvement but we have got to keep doing those things.”

“I remember the game up at Inverness a couple of seasons ago when we were 4-0 up and cruising but we were praying for the final whistle in the end at 4-3, it was unconvincing. Although Hearts had a spell in the second half there was an inner belief and a confidence that we had enough on the pitch to get the job done and that shows an improvement but we have got to keep doing those things.”