Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Derek McInnes says Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts have shown the “desire” of title-winning Celtic and Rangers teams of the past after his side’s derby win over Hibernian.
McInnes scoffed at gripes about the quality of their 1-0 victory over Hibs, which dealt an early blow to Socceroos star Martin Boyle and his teammates’ hopes of playing European football next season.
The result left Hearts six points in front of second-placed Rangers, who enjoy a game in hand, while Hibs remain fifth.
Hibs are now four points adrift of fourth-placed Motherwell, who have played two games less and play Rangers on Wednesday.
Substitute Tomas Magnusson knocked in Harry Milne’s cross from the left in the 88th minute to settle a tense, hard-fought showdown and spark wild celebrations inside Tynecastle.
Hearts are now nine points ahead of Celtic, who have played two games less.
McInnes did not care about the lack of finesse on show in a match he described as “enthusiastic, fully charged, full of commitment”.
“The game was frantic from the get-go, it didn’t really settle at all,” said the Hearts boss. “I thought Hibs were slightly better than us in the first half just because I thought they had a bit more threat than us.
“I thought we were better in the second half without being brilliant, no team really looked like scoring.
“But I liken it to how many successful Celtic or Rangers teams just get the job done, win 1-0, down the road and nobody really cares about the performance too much. Our supporters aren’t caring about it at the end.
“I got a question back there from somebody about the quality of the game and all the rest of it. I couldn’t give a … Honestly, go away, forget it. Do you think our fans are bothered with that?”
Hibs boss David Gray lamented his side’s late lapse as he felt they merited at least a point.
“I think there’s nothing in the game in terms of (chances), we restricted Hearts to very little,” he said.
“I thought we defended them for 90 minutes, switched off for one wide free-kick, didn’t stop the cross and that’s what cost us the game.
“Certainly as the game went on, I felt like if anybody was going to win, it was going to be us … but we’re going home with nothing, which is what makes it even more frustrating.”
