McCarey makes his point under Coyle

OWEN COYLE last night saluted goalkeeper Aaron McCarey for helping his team return to the Highlands with a point.

The Irish goalkeeper had a busy afternoon at Tynecastle and produced a stunning late stop to deny Christophe Berra as Hearts slipped to a second consecutive draw in front of the new main stand.

‘It was a wonderful header from Berra and a good save,’ said Coyle. ‘It was one I expect him to make but a big save to help us earn a point.

‘With Scott Fox back fit, we now have real competition for that spot.

‘All goalkeepers crave a run of games and Aaron has done very well since coming in.’

Coyle had intended to introduce his new signing Chris Eagles from the bench but found his game plan undone by injuries to key players Andrew Davies and Jim O’Brien.

‘The plan was to get him into the game today, but we were unable to because of the injuries,’ he said. ‘I thought Hearts were direct and then playing on the second ball.

‘Jamie Walker’s a wonderful player, that kid is terrific, and he got free a couple of times in the first half.

‘But for my group, given we were decimated by injuries, the skipper coming off, Jim O’Brien coming off, people having to play in different positions, it’s a great point.’

While Coyle brings energy and loud enthusiasm to the County technical area, Craig Levein has cut a more subdued figure since stepping out of the directors’ box and on to the touchline for Hearts.

‘I am fed up after watching that,’ said Levein. ‘The players did everything we asked them to do other than put the ball in the net.

‘Sometimes it is hard and then you score goals and it just seems to be easy.

‘Compared to last week, this was a big step forward. That is how I want the team to play but I would like more goals.

‘There is no point in sitting looking back on videos of people missing chances. It would just depress me and the players, so we talked about the performance.

‘Sometimes in football, and I have been here before, it is hard. Everything is difficult and that is the moments we are having just now.’