“It was all hands to the pump at the end.

“I always like to keep one sub back in case of that eventuality but I actually thought about putting on all three subs at one point because it was clear that the game needed a dose of energy and freshness.

“We held one back and put Peter on with ten minutes to go and it’s just sods law when Ash goes down. They have put their centre half up at that stage and they were throwing things forward so it was a case of putting Rooney at centre back and he won a few headers, we dug in and got the job done.

“There is not a successful team out there who haven’t had to go out there and win games like that so although the performance wasn’t at the levels that we would have hoped for I think the outcome is what we would have wanted and we would have gladly took that before the game.

“I am delighted that we have managed to get another job done, the positives being, Rooney scores again, we get another clean sheet, and we go seven wins out of seven and five points clear so we are delighted.

“We never really got our game going tonight, it was sporadic.

“I thought we were dominant in the first half without being at our best but you can never question the work rate. In hindsight, I would maybe have made a few more changes on the back of Saturday but you never want to make wholesale changes.

“Tonight was in indication that it’s important that we keep bringing a level of performance that will give us the best chance of winning but it shows that we can win even when we are not at our best.

“We have shown that side to ourselves. I think there is a confidence when we do go one up because we have only lost one goal from open play this season. We said at half time though that it was important to try and get that second goal. McGovern has made a great save from Rooney’s header, Niall’s hit the bar and Josh Parker was through one on one so we did have chances that would have effectively killed it but you have got to compliment Hamilton as well.

“They have proven last season and this season already that they are tough opponents and we expected nothing less, they were very competitive and when it's only 1-0 they are always going to have a go.

“We have won games like that before, we have found ways to win when we are not at our best.

“Tonight there was no case of complacency and that can never be aimed at the team, there was a willingness and a desire but there wasn’t the same energy and intensity in our play that is required to beat Hamilton a bit more comfortably.

“We have now got three away games in six days and it will be a big demand but they are great games to be involved in. First of all it’s Hearts when the game is sold out already, we will have a strong support down there and a brilliant atmosphere. I think we have all missed Tynecastle if we are honest and it’s important to go and try to make it eight out of eight and that will be our intention.

“It was good to get Ryan McLaughlin on the pitch and a chance for him to show what he is capable of, he was very positive when he got the ball and he will feel better for getting his first involvement.”

“It was good to get Ryan McLaughlin on the pitch and a chance for him to show what he is capable of, he was very positive when he got the ball and he will feel better for getting his first involvement.”