Derek McInnes | Post Match Press Conference at Murrayfield
“We were the far better team in the first half.
“I loved how we came here and grabbed the game. The players were relishing playing on that surface and I that showed in the opening half an hour. I thought we controlled proceedings. I thought Hearts backed off and we had a couple of opportunities. The only criticism of the team at that point was that we should have been more clinical with our work – with our shots and our crosses.
“They then had a couple of counter attacks on us. The way Craig set his team up with a diamond five, it was very congested through the middle. They were set up to counter attack on us. So it was so important that we looked after the ball.
“We reminded the players of that at half time and asked them to play in the wider areas of the pitch. We wanted Logan and Christie to gang up on that right hand side. Shinnie and Wright to gang up on that left hand side. It was important we did not make it a physical game through the middle because that was where they were strong. In fairness to Hearts, I thought they came out and got after us a bit more. They pressed us a bit higher. We did not get it all our own way and we struggled at times to get up the pitch.
“Therefore, if I am being honest with myself, we are happy to take the point then.
“The game turned. We gave Hearts encouragement by not looking after the ball well enough in the second half. You have to say Hearts have got good players. For whatever reason, they have not been getting results in the last while but they showed they have good players in that second half. So for us to come away with a clean sheet was ok.
“We have our goalkeeper and also our defenders to thank. O’Connor at times, Logan got back to make a great tackle. By and large I thought we defended well and made some good blocks but a good goalkeeper will win you points when you are not at your best. We have seen that time and time again and Lewis has done that for us.
“We are grateful to have him.
“We will lick our wounds, we came here to win, but if we are honest enough a point was no more than what we deserved.
“We were more pleased to hear the full-time whistle than Hearts were.
“Normally Joe is not too busy but there have been games where he has been called upon. There were a number of games last season when he made the difference between getting one point or getting all three points. His concentration is so good. He fills the goal brilliantly. He has that calmness and secureness. Top keepers have got that. Later on in the game he came and took some good crosses to relieve the pressure. He gives you that as well.
“We came here to win. We are disappointed we have not put in a complete 90 minute performance but I have to praise the players for the defence part of it in the second half, but recognise there is work to do and we want to get better. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways next week.
“It has been a good start for us. Four wins and a draw in the league, currently joint top. Next week hopefully we can carry a threat for longer periods.
“I have watched the penalty incident again (first couple of minutes). There is no criticism of Craig Thomson as he is following the ball but Berra is the wrong side of Rooney and he pulls him. You can see a clear jersey being pulled. When the ball comes active in that area Berra has let go. Whether it has put Rooney off I don’t know.
“Adam is adamant it has done because it has broken his stride with the pull and then he is a bit off balance. But there is no criticism of the referee as he has to watch May running through. The pull is just before the ball is in the area.
“When the players seen the pitch they were really looking forward to getting out there. They wanted to go out and continue the good run we were on. I thought we did that from the off and I was pleased with that confidence but I think it was important that we got ourselves in front during that period.
“They had that solid shape that is synonymous with Craig.
“Hearts then showed their strengths and Lafferty was a handful when he came on, thankfully we were good enough to deal with that.
“I thought Dominic Ball did fine, absolutely fine. He is another one, as is the way, you make signings because they have not been playing elsewhere. He is clearly behind others but we felt we needed his defensive edge. We needed his size to compete with Hearts today. And I think he can be pleased with his performance.
“We have a few players as I have spoken about before, have not played a lot of football over the past season and we are trying to get them up to speed through games as well as their training.”
