PENALTY FOR REF’S BAD CALL
him. Lewis is clearly impeded and tries to stop his fall.
“We have to be better than that and see it for what it is. The second goal is ultimately what separates the two teams and it made the task more difficult.”
McInnes though had no gripe at the outcome and, despite an improved second-half display his team were unable to dodge defeat. He added: “We gave the players every warning about how strong Hearts are at home. I felt that Hearts started far more aggressively.
“But I said to my assistant Tony (Docherty) before Hearts scored that Joe Lewis had not had much to do.
“It wasn’t the wrong team that was out but we weren’t ready for the intensity of Hearts which is disappointing.
“We played a bit young in the first half and lacked the belief to get on the ball.
“I just wanted my team to make more of a fist of it.
“We made the changes and were far better but we can’t win the game playing for 45 minutes.” fighting attitude. But the lads who have come in showed unbelievable character and the ones who were already in the team stepped up a level. It was outstanding.”
Cynics say Hearts won’t be able to keep withstanding the blows and the setbacks over a 38-game campaign but Dunne isn’t listening to any noise from outside Tynecastle.
Instead they are dancing to their own tune – and enjoying the moment as the young defender did at full-time.
He said: “Moments like that are why you play football, when you get the three points after a really difficult shift. It’s the best feeling in the world.
“You can use being written off as motivation but we have so many experienced professionals in there that we don’t take much notice. What matters is what we’re saying.”