Hearts may have lost by two goals to nil to Rangers but they delivered a decent performance.
The Jambos feel behind to an early Cyriel Dessers opener but, other than that, they gave as good as they got at Ibrox.
There were big chances to equalise but Neil Critchley’s side just couldn’t find that final touch to get at least a much-needed point on the board.
The defeat leaves them sitting 11th in the Premiership and it doesn’t get any easier as they face Celtic and Aberdeen after the international break.
Neil Critchley felt Hearts deserved more vs Rangers
Despite emerging pointless, Hearts can surely take positives from their display against Rangers.
Critchley was certainly pleased and proud of the performance but also seemed quite downbeat in his post-match interview because he felt they didn’t get what they deserved.
The Jambos boss bemoaned missed chances and also the fact his side allowed the home side to take control of the game with such an early goal, explaining he doesn’t want his side to be a “nearly team”.
He told Premier Sports: “I felt our performance probably merited more. I felt we started too tentatively and got off to the worst possible start.
“You don’t want to give Rangers a goal start early in the game and we did.
“After that we settled down and grew into the game and I thought second half we were excellent. We obviously missed a big chance to get back into the game.
“I’m proud of how we played the game but I don’t want us to be a nearly team and we should have got something from that game.”
Kenneth Vargas missed Hearts chance
Probably the biggest chance for Hearts came for Kenneth Vargas when Lawrence Shankland took a brilliant touch, turn and finish to play the Costa Rican in.
But, as he often has done in recent times, Vargas failed to apply the finish and struck the post instead
Asked if those are the moments his team must capitalise on, Critchley added: “Yeah, and that’s been the story of the last few games to be honest. They get a chance in the first five minutes of the first half and score and we get a chance in the first five minutes of the second half and miss.
“If we score it we had momentum. But we didn’t provide the quality we needed in the final third and ultimately that’s why we’re leaving with no points.”