“If We Show More Quality, We Win The Game” – Derek McInnes

Hearts manager Derek McInnes feels his side lacked a percentile in quality needed to win in their 2-2 home draw with Celtic.

The league leaders came from behind twice against the defending champions to earn a point, with the second equaliser coming once Celtic were reduced to ten men following a red card to defender Austin Trusty.

And McInnes feels that his team’s chance creation and control of the game was best of the two sides.

He said: “There’s two sides to it. I think when you come from behind twice against a team of Celtic’s quality, there’s always a bit of pride and you want your players to show a bit of perseverance that we did.

“But I do think in terms of chances created and how the game played out, I thought we had the better, and more, chances to win the game.

“Celtic had a tough game on Thursday night and I think that factored into them, but I thought our energy that we put into the game, our connection from everybody really in terms of effort was there.

“And I spoke at half-time to try bring a bit more quality – and if we show more quality, we win the game. We’ve not won the game because of that.”

McInnes was irate after Celtic’s opener with a member of Celtic staff’s reaction, which seen the Hearts manager inside the Hoops dugout. The 54-year-old was coy to delve deeper into the incident, but did explain briefly.

“That’s one place I’ll not be going! [The Celtic dugout]

“It’s nothing to do with Martin [O’Neill] or Shaun [Maloney], it was just one of their inexperienced coaches that got a bit carried away.

“That’s all I want to say on it.”

Hearts were without captain and top goalscorer Lawrence Shankland today as well as midfield duo Beni Baningime and Cammy Devlin, and McInnes was pleased that their absences were not too hard felt.

“There’s no two ways about it, on Sunday/Monday we were all a bit despondent when we get the news on injuries, but overcoming these challenges is part of it.

“It’s good that we’ve got boys that have been waiting on the sidelines who played their part today, like [Landry] Kabore who makes us play a bit differently.”

Hearts remain six points ahead of Celtic but Rangers reduced their lead at the summit to four points after defeating Dundee 3-0 at Ibrox. The Jambos boss is relishing the title race as the season moves into it’s final fifteen games.

“I’m delighted we are where we are. We’ve been there a while now, I think it’s four months now, it’s not a purple patch.

“I’m enjoying where we are, but we are well aware that there’s big clubs and good teams are desperate to be where we are, and we’ve got to be ready for that challenge as we go along.”

Hearts have three away games in their next four, starting with a trip to Tannadice this Saturday. Their next three games after come against St. Mirren away, Hibs at home and Rangers away. Coming out of these with as few battle scars as possible, might be the difference in a potential historic Heart of Midlothian season.