Head coach Neil Critchley said his Hearts side will not be a nearly team following the 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.
The men in maroon had their chances on the day, but it was Cyriel Dessers early strike that ensured all three points remained in Govan.
Speaking to Hearts TV at full-time, Critchley said:
“I don’t want us to be a nearly team. We got off to the worst possible start. We were too tentative at the start of the game. We then grew into the game. Their best opportunity comes from us giving the ball away in the middle third of the pitch.
“The message at half-time was to show a bit more belief and a bit more aggression. Particularly without the ball. We did that. We forced them back. Controlled a lot of the second half and had some good opportunities.
“So in some ways I’m proud of how we played the game and took the game to the opposition, but also it’s a game we should’ve got something from.
“We’re not going to be a team that’s going to be passive and sit behind the ball. We’re going to be on the front foot and take the game to the opposition, home or away. We’re going to be aggressive and make it hard for the opposition to play against us.
“That takes energy and humility in the way that we play the game. We also want to play our football, and I felt we did that. In many ways, we played like a real Hearts team today. But I don’t want to be a nearly team. Lose 1-0 and say, ‘good performance’ because it doesn’t get us anything.”
You can watch Neil’s press conference in full on Hearts TV.
