A good workout

Hearts B manager Liam Fox praised his players for what he describes as a ‘really good performance’ following a 3-1 friendly victory over Rangers B at the Rangers Training Centre on Thursday. 

Callum Sandilands’ volley had Hearts ahead in the first half before Makenzie Kirk added a second from the penalty spot.

Skipper Macaulay Tait scored the third in the final ten minutes and although there was to be no clean sheet following Bailey Rice’s late spot kick, Fox was very pleased with his sides display.

“It was a really good performance today”, he told the Official Hearts Website.

“I’m really pleased with loads of aspects of the game. We passed the ball well and we pressed really well.

“We’re playing against good players but in the last two games, we’ve managed to come out on top against Celtic and Rangers.

“As always, there are things we can work and improve on but overall, I’m really pleased not only with the attitude and application but also the performance.

“Rangers and Celtic are far and away the biggest two clubs in this country, so when you come up against them it is always a good barometer for our young players.

“But if they want to play for Hearts, they need to be able to compete with these players, so that is the challenge for our guys.

“Coming through here it was always going to be difficult but the boys stood up to it.”

Craig Gordon played his first 90 minutes since returning from his double leg break and Fox admits he’s delighted for the Hearts stopper.

“Absolutely delighted for Craigy," he continued.

“Believe it or not, I played in the same youth team as Craig Gordon, so he’s making me feel old with the fact he’s still playing.

“Craig Gordon is arguably the best Scottish keeper we have ever produced, so it’s a great experience for our young boys to have him alongside them.

“He didn’t have that much to do today. I’m sure he might have liked a bit more to do.

“But just having him in the changing room, his calmness in certain moments, for our guys it was a brilliant experience but for him personally, absolutely delighted for him to get minutes under his belt and help him keep pushing on his return."