Hearts stay at the bottom of the Premiership after their draw with Aberdeen left them with just one win in eight.
But manager Neil Critchley was proud of his players’ efforts, especially after responding to losing two defenders to injury in Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley, and still coming from behind to claim a point.
It looked like things were going to continue going against them when Leighton Clarkson scored with the Dons’ first shot just three minutes after that second forced change.
But they fought their way back into the game and equalised in the second period through Nicky Devlin’s own goal.
It means the Jambos didn’t have enough to leapfrog Hibs but Critchley is taking plenty of positives from the performance.
Critchley on Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen
The Hearts boss was delighted with his players’ efforts against Aberdeen even though they couldn’t find a much-needed win.
After that double injury blow and the Dons then taking the lead, Neil Critchley feared the worst.
But he credits his players for putting that out of their mind and making sure they got something from the Tynecastle clash.
Critchley told Premier Sports: “I thought it was a really good, breathless game. I thought we started very well and the changes disrupted us a little bit and they scored with their first shot, that’s how things seem to be going for us.
“I thought second half we were outstanding. Really took the game to them, played with real intensity and aggression.
“You couldn’t tell we played Thursday night. I thought our energy and ability to keep running and fighting.”
Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent injury update
Out of the two injured players, Stephen Kingsley’s looked the worst as he was stretchered off with a hamstring problem.
Critchley confirmed that as he gave an update, explaining: “I think that’s about right. When you see a player stretchered off it’s never nice and that’s his hamstring so it doesn’t look good.
“Frankie is more to do with his quad. So when you’re bringing two your defenders off.
“And even Halks was struggling before the game, he had a back spasm. He was struggling in the second half but he was fantastic as well.
“We were up against it against a good team but we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves at half time and we went for the game.
“I think a point is the least we deserved.
“I said to them at half-time ‘we have two options here. We can moan about the situation and sulk or we fight and we scrap and compete and the players did that in abundance. I felt if anyone deserved to win the game it was us.
“I was proud of the players today. I thought they put in a real effort, particularly after Thursday night and the travel we had.”