Forrest fire’s still burning despite defeat
ALAN FORREST insists there will be no wavering in Hearts’ pursuit of third place in the Premiership after an unexpected setback in the Highlands.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat was only the Gorgie club’s second loss of 2024 – the other came against Rangers at Ibrox – and was infused by a degree of misfortune.
Forrest was one of two players who struck the woodwork on a day when Steven Naismith’s side also had a penalty claim waved away and a stunning freekick finish from Stephen Kingsley chalked off.
Forrest, superb in much of his attacking play, believes the confidence built from overall form this season is iron-cast for the Scottish Cup semi-finalists.
The 27-year-old attacker said: “You come away frustrated because we feel as if we’ve done OK.
“While I think we have played a lot better this season, I don’t think it was our worst performance.
“We were growing into the game and we lose a cheap first goal which wasn’t good enough from everyone.
“It was kind of strange that we lost a couple of goals when we have been more solid in past games.
“It is one where I don’t know if we did enough to win the game but maybe a draw is a fair result.
“We just need to dust ourselves off and pick ourselves back up for the game after the break.
“I don’t think we can come away from what we’ve done. What we’ve done is solid.
“You don’t just become a bad team over one result. We just need to look at it... no game is easy, but it is one we fancied to win.
“We look at it, reassess it but I don’t think we can get too down.
“We still have a gap of 11 points on Kilmarnock in fourth place. We know Killie won and they are in fourth spot.
“I don’t think we can get too down and make sure we are ready for Killie, who we play next at home.”
Toby Sibbick’s hesitation in the penalty area seemed culpable for Simon Murray’s crucial opener for Ross County, but Forrest was not about to point a finger of blame.
And he reckons there’s added frustration with the international break ahead.
He said: “Nobody gets singled out. We’ve got to defend it better.
“I can remember Zander Clark saving and I felt we were in a position to clear it, but it is one that happens in games and it is about us bouncing back.
“Then we lose the second goal after half-time and that deflates you.
“I feel we did have a reaction and huffed and puffed a few times, but it wasn’t meant to be. On another day you get a result. You want a win going into the international break and it changes everything, where the mood is high.
“Now, because you have got beat, you need to wait a couple of weeks for your next game. It hurts that wee bit more. At the same time, we need to reflect on it and look over the way we played and make sure we are ready for Killie.”